Start of Guardians’ spring training less than a month away
Jan 14, 2025
The outside temperature at noon Jan. 14 in Northeast Ohio was 19 degrees — a perfect time to drop a report on what the Guardians will be doing a month from now in much warmer Goodyear, Ariz.
Guardians pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to spring training Feb. 11. Their first workout is set for Feb. 13. The full squad is due in camp by Feb. 16, with the first full team workout set for Feb. 18.
Baseball doesn’t mess around. Four days after the first full squad practice, the Guardians — defending American League Central Division champions — will open their Cactus League schedule against the Reds at 3:05 p.m. at Goodyear Park on Feb. 22. If the Guards reach their goals in 2025, they will still be playing baseball in late October.
A total of 23 non-roster players will be invited to join the 40 rostered players at the Major League spring training site. Ten of the invitees are pitchers, four are catchers, five are infielders and four are outfielders.
Chase DeLauter, a first-round draft pick by the Guardians in 2022 (16th overall), is among the outfielders invited to spring training. MLB.com ranks DeLauter second among all Guardians prospects. Only Travis Bazzana, taken first overall by the Guardians in the 2025 draft, is ranked higher. Bazzana, expected to begin the season ahead with the Double-A Akron RubberDucks, did not get an invitation to the Major League camp.
MLB pipeline projects DeLauter to make his debut with the Guardians at some point during the 2025 season. Injuries last year limited him to 39 games with Akron, Triple-A Columbus and the Arizona Complex League. DeLauter is healthy on the eve of spring training.
Here is the complete list of non-roster players the Guardians invited to spring training.
Pitchers: 93 -Tanner Burns RHP; 98 – Will Dion LHP; 64 – Luis Frías RHP; 90 – Bradley Hanner, RHP; 95 – Mason Hickman, RHP; 61 – Zak Kent RHP; 96 – Jack Leftwich RHP; 91 – Andrew Misiaszek LHP; 67 – Parker Mushinski LHP and 97 – Ryan Webb LHP
Catchers: 87- Jake Ancha; 68 – Kody Huff; 70 – Cooper Ingle and 46 – Dom Nunez
Infielders: 75 – Dayan Frias; 80 – Micah Pries; 76 – Milan Tolentino; 73 – Yordys Valdes and 77 – Will Wilson
Outfielders: 79 – Chase DeLauter; 7 – Myles Straw; 76 – George Valera and 71 – Kahlil Watson
Guardians catcher Cooper Ingle throws to first base during depth camp at spring training baseball workouts in Goodyear, Ariz., on Feb. 16, 2024. (Carolyn Kaster – The Associated Press)
Ingle, a 22-year-old catcher, is a player to keep an eye on. He was named Midwest League MVP at High-A Lake County in 2024, batting .313 (79-for-252) with 18 doubles, nine home runs. and 55 RBI in 68 games (.433/.500/.933). He also was named a Baseball America High-A All-Star. He finished the year by hitting .281 in 25 games at Double-A Akron. Ingle was selected by Cleveland in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB draft out of Clemson. He currently ranks as the 13th-best prospect in the Guardians’ system by MLB Pipeline.