In 2022, it looked like Guardians prospect Daniel Espino was set to be the next great Guardians pitcher.
After starring at High-A and Single-A in 2021, Espino got the call to Double-A Akron in 2022, where he recorded 35 strikeouts over his first 18 1/3 innings. A late-season call to Cleveland didn’t seem out of the question.
Then the injuries came.
First it was patellar tendinitis. Then a right shoulder injury. Then right shoulder surgery. Followed by another right shoulder surgery. Year after year went by with no sighting of Espino.
Until this year.