CLEVELAND -- Guardians pitching prospect Justin Campbell's professional baseball journey has been defined by overcoming adversity. So, you could only hold your breath watching the right-hander walk off the mound with Triple-A Columbus on July 1 before he threw a single pitch.
Campbell (who’s ranked as the Guardians’ No. 21 prospect by MLB Pipeline) exited his scheduled debut with the Clippers during first-inning warmups. The Guardians ultimately placed the 25-year-old on the 7-day Minor League injured list on Wednesday with a left oblique strain.
After Campbell underwent an MRI, the expectation is he could miss five to seven weeks, which is the typical recovery timetable for similar injuries.
Cleveland selected Campbell with the No. 37 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Oklahoma State. However, he did not make his professional debut until this season due to several arm injuries.
COMPLETE GUARDIANS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Campbell missed the 2023 season while recovering from right elbow surgery. He then underwent surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow prior to the ‘24 season, which also sidelined him for the entirety of ‘25.
Campbell’s return to the mound this season has marked his first game action since his junior season with Oklahoma State in 2022. He has quickly made up for lost time with his strong performance that has pushed him up the Guardians’ organizational ladder.
Campbell has a 2.61 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP with 66 strikeouts and 27 walks in 51 2/3 innings over 15 starts, between High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron. He opened the season with the Captains, before he was promoted to Akron on May 3 and to Columbus on Tuesday.
Campbell has impressed so much in his return to the mound this year that the Guardians had been viewing him as a potential option to impact their big league pitching staff at some point down the road this season. A five-to-seven-week return timeline could still keep that door open. Given his history, the Guardians will naturally be mindful of him in the weeks ahead.