Guardians Prospect Daniel Espino Returns from Injuries, Ranked No. 12

Cleveland Guardians pitching prospect Daniel Espino, a former top-10 overall prospect, has been ranked No. 12 by Covering the Corner readers after missing over three years due to multiple shoulder surgeries. Espino finally returned late last season, pitching two-thirds of an inning for Triple-A Columbus where his fastball hit 98 mph and his slider looked "devastating." He also logged 4 and 2/3 scoreless innings in the Arizona Fall League. While unlikely to return to starting, he is anticipated to become a key bullpen piece for the Guardians in 2026.