{"id":3861,"date":"2023-04-02T17:04:05","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T00:04:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=3861"},"modified":"2023-04-02T17:04:05","modified_gmt":"2023-04-03T00:04:05","slug":"cleveland-guardians-prospect-countdown-10-to-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2023\/04\/02\/cleveland-guardians-prospect-countdown-10-to-6\/","title":{"rendered":"Cleveland Guardians Prospect Countdown: 10 to 6"},"content":{"rendered":"

SportRelay.com<\/a> continues the countdown of the Cleveland Guardians<\/strong><\/a>\u2019 top 100 prospects for 2023. Any or all of this group of five could be called upon to help the Guardians try to repeat as champions of the American League Central Division this year.<\/p>\n

We have reached prospects 10 to 6. Each will be working 9 to 5 and then some to get to Cleveland. All five will start this season with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers<\/strong><\/a>. That’s just a couple hours down the ol’ Interstate-71 highway. Two of them made the drive up last year and back again this spring. Two are first-round picks along with a second-rounder, fifth-rounder, and a big pitcher acquired in a trade two years ago while he was still in Class A ball.<\/p>\n

Here are the previous listings: 11-15<\/a>|16-20<\/a>|21-25<\/a>|26-30<\/a>|31-35<\/a>|36-40<\/a>|41-45<\/a>|46-50<\/a>|51-60<\/a>|61 \u2013 70<\/a>|71 \u2013 80<\/a>|81 \u2013 90<\/a>|91 \u2013 100<\/a><\/p>\n

Marked Down From No. 1<\/h3>\n

10. Daniel Espino<\/a>, RHP\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a01st-round pick (24 overall), 2019\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a06\u20192\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 225\u00a0\u00a0 B: R\u00a0\u00a0 T: R\u00a0\u00a0 1\/5\/2001<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Daniel<\/a>
Daniel Espino throws a pitch for the Akron RubberDucks<\/a> in 2022
David Monseur\/Accent Images\/Courtesy Akron RubberDucks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite missing most of 2022 with knee tendinitis, he was forecast No. 1 on the SportRelay.com<\/a> top 100 rankings of Guardians prospects this winter. As training camp opened, he was diagnosed with a slight tear in his right shoulder and won\u2019t pitch until at least May. Espino had shoulder woes two years ago and this buildup of injuries is a huge concern. He’s only thrown 133 2\/3 innings as a pro, although posting incredible numbers that include a rate of 14.9 strikeouts per nine innings. In five games at Double-A Akron last year, he fanned 35 and walked four, allowing nine hits in 18 1\/3 innings.\u00a0 When healthy, his quality four-pitch mix highlighted by a fastball in the 98-102 MPH range makes the native of Panama one of the brightest prospects in the game. Espino\u2019s devastating curveball and low-90s slider pile up Ks. He is limber, athletically strong, a diligent worker, and seems to have all the tools but has a body that looks indestructible yet breaks down.<\/p>\n

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It Happened Before<\/h3>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>