Guardians Manager Provides Positive Update on Injured Players Ahead of Opening Day
The Cleveland Guardians will be without pitcher Hunter Gaddis and outfielder George Valera when Opening Day arrives, but both players are making progress in their recovery.
Manager Stephen Vogt shared optimistic updates on both players on March 23. Gaddis, who hasn’t participated in game action since the start of Spring Training, and Valera, who has been sidelined for a couple of weeks, are both progressing well.
Vogt explained that while Valera is not yet ready for major league games, he is doing well in his recovery. “George played in a minor league game today and is progressing well,” Vogt said. “He’s not ready for big league games yet, but I’m hopeful that his time away won’t be long.”
Valera had a strong spring performance, hitting .292 with a .333 on-base percentage, .500 slugging percentage, and an .833 OPS. He also recorded seven hits, including two doubles and a home run. Had he played more, his numbers could have approached a 1.0 OPS.
As for Gaddis, Vogt provided positive news, saying that while he hasn’t yet played in a game, he has been throwing in live bullpen sessions. “He’s feeling better each time out,” Vogt said. “We just need to get him healthy and back into game action.”
Gaddis has been dealing with forearm tightness since early March. Given the time he’s missed, Vogt emphasized that Gaddis will need to gradually ease back into the demanding workload of a major league pitcher. “We need to make sure he’s ready to handle back-to-back appearances and his usual role,” Vogt said. “We’ll approach this carefully since it’s a long season.”
Over the past two seasons, Gaddis has been one of the most reliable pitchers in the league, making 124 appearances—the second-most by any pitcher. His consistency is crucial for the Guardians, and they’re keen on not rushing him back too soon, but also want to avoid letting him lose his rhythm.
Since moving to the bullpen, Gaddis has posted an impressive 2.29 ERA with a 0.962 WHIP. While he’s not a strikeout-heavy pitcher, his ability to control the strike zone is key to his effectiveness, as he averages just six hits and two walks per nine innings, rarely giving up home runs.
As Gaddis and Valera continue their recoveries, the Guardians are confident in the depth of their roster, knowing that other players can step up and keep the team competitive as the season progresses.
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