Insider Predicts Young Guardians Pitcher Will Be An All-Star
The Cleveland Guardians have been in a position to put collectively a robust, underrated rotation for the 2026 marketing campaign. It would not have a lot in the best way of depth past the highest 5, however Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, Slade Cecconi, Joey Cantillo, and Parker Messick type a stable group with some upside and room to enhance.
The baseball world has been paying shut consideration to Messick in latest weeks, principally as a result of he gained a rotation spot over Logan Allen and confirmed simply how good he might be when he posted a 2.72 ERA in restricted motion final 12 months.
However, folks look like sleeping on Cantillo, and he has as a lot upside as anybody on the workers in addition to possibly Williams. The left-hander additionally confirmed a glimpse of his expertise final 12 months, with a 3.21 ERA in 95.1 frames.
You can say that was Cantillo’s breakout marketing campaign, however we’ll cease you proper there. He is able to extra, and MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins thinks so, too.
“Bold Prediction: Joey Cantillo will be an All-Star,” Stebbins wrote. “Williams made a giant leap final 12 months, and Cantillo may observe go well with this season. The lefty had a bumpy 2025 wherein he was jockeyed between the Majors and Minors, and the bullpen and beginning rotation. He was elite in September as a part of the Guardians’ six-man rotation (1.55 ERA in 29 innings over 5 begins). Cantillo entered this spring with a refreshed demeanor and a refined arsenal, and will take a major leap this “summer.”
With extra readability relating to his function on the workers and the boldness enhance of studying that he can truly dominate opposing lineups, Cantillo might be primed to take one other step ahead this 12 months.
He will probably be a starter this season for the Guardians, however that wasn’t at all times the case in 2025. He pitched 34 video games, beginning 13 of them. Despite the fixed change of roles and environment, Cantillo was glorious in each roles, posting a 2.96 ERA as a member of the rotation and a 3.81 mark as a bullpen piece.
It’s not loopy to say that Cantillo, a man with a clean supply and a devilish changeup that earned a 49.4 p.c whiff price in 2025, may take one other step ahead in his improvement and change into an All-Star.
The form of his changeup offers him an edge towards righty hitters, but when he can discover a constant, dependable weapon to neutralize lefties, the sky is the restrict for the 26-year-old. Maybe having more fun on the mound might help him loosen up extra and attain a complete new stage.
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Analyst Makes Big Playoff Prediction About Guardians In 2026
