Welcome to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network. Guardians Weekly is brought
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Welcome to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosen House along with you this weekend from
Atlanta, Georgia, where the Guardians are taking on the Atlanta in a three
game series start of a two city trip Forard Cleveland. We'll take on Houston
next week Tuesday through Thursday. Good show lined up for you today in just
a little bit, we will hear from outfielder Stephen Kwan, relief pitcher Hunter
Gaddis, and also visit with starting pitcher Tanner Bibby and also another member of
the starting rotation, Ben Lively, as well as a farm report with Rob
Sortfolio, the director of player development for the Guardians. But first our weekend
review and after an off day on Monday, the Guardians finished up their homestand
with a three game series against Boston and on Tuesday night, with rain falling
throughout much of the ballgame, the Guardians received some good pitching in this one
as they needed it. Tanner hout going for the Red Sox. He shut
down the Guardians a week prior in Boston. For the Guardians, it was
Ben Lively making his decond start on the young season, and he was shocked.
Ben Lively is one strikeaway from being the first Cleveland pitcher to go six
innings in a two and a half week span, and that is so critical
to save that bullpen. Now the kick and the delivery from the veteran right
hander, and it swung on line shot right at the center fielder. Tyler
Freeman had to jump at the last moment and made the catch, and Ben
Lively continues to dominate scoreless. In the middle of the sixth from Downtown Cleveland.
The Red Sox got the game's first run in the seventh inning on a
solo home run by Willy r Abreu, but the Guardians answered in the bottom
of the seventh. Will Brennan got it started with a double, bringing Tyler
Freeman to the plate. The two strength pitch swung on, banged up the
middle, pasit center Brennan his third. He's coming home. We are tied
at one, and that's why manager Steven Vote did not fun even on an
oh two count. Tyler Freeman stayed locked in and he continues to torture the
Red Sox with a two strike RBI single to center, and it's a one
to one game, and Tanner Hawk has proven to be human. Later on
in the seventh Brian Rochio's sack fly gave the Guardians a two to one lead,
and then in the eighth inning, Jose Ramirez let things off with a
blast. Now the set in the one two pitch swung on hit pretty well
to right. That goes Refsneider. Track walk dom Jose Ramirez took a ninety
seven mile an hour fastball on the outside corner and shot it the other way
to write number four for Jose Ramirez and the Guardians get a mamoth insurants running
now lead it three to one in the eighth inning and josez Now with two
home runs from each side of the plate this year, and then a big
two out hit from Esteban flori All extended the lead a little bit further.
Now the set now the two to two pitch swung and ripped a deep right
bank, goes Refsnyder. It's over his head, rips off the wall.
In the third is Freeman Hill try to score, there will be no throat
to the plate it's an RBI double for Estevan flori All and the Guardians now
laid at four to one. A left on left matchup and scoring from first
was Freeman and the Red Sox did not do a very good job with the
relay coming to the cutoff man from Rev. Snyder and they would have had
a play at the plate, but they just never got any kind of a
throw off to the plate and the Guardians with two and the seventh two in
the eighth and their late ending magic continues. And in the ninth it was
a Manuel classe on to try and nail down another say nothing into the count
four to one. Cleveland base is empty, two down in the ninth clause,
let's hit rip and a bray you a swing and ans bogging clause Pump
set fisted the gloves strangs out the side and the Guardians, with another dominant
pitching performance tonight, wipe out the Boston Red Sox four to one. So
a night start to the series against the Red Sox on a chili night on
Wednesday, it was all Boston as they shut out the Guardians ate nothing,
so that set up the rubber match of the series on Thursday, a cold
afternoon game Downtown made it tough on the hitters, but it didn't bother Will
Brennan. In the second inning, Now the wind up and now the one
two delivery swung and hit a ton deep bright field. Back is a bray
you and it is gone even into the wind well. Brennan hits his third
and the Guardians with a one nothing lead. Here in the second. Still
in the second, after two walks and a hit batter, the bases were
loaded for Jose Ramirez, Anderson's ready. He fires a sway the drive to
deep right, how way back on pitch number ten, deepen of the lord,
decking right, a grand slam for Jose, a five nothing Cleveland lead,
and Alex carl with a walk to the mound one hitter too late.
Boston clought their way back into it with two runs in the third and two
more in the sixth inning to make it a one run Guardians lead at five
to four, But in the cell a big insurance run came across the plate
thanks to the legs of Jose Ramirez. Now the one one runner first goes
pitches off the glove of McGuire. Ramirez is coming home. Nobody's at the
plate balls flipped back to the plate, Martin wasn't there. Hosey scores,
Naylor goes to third, and Ramirez, again the smartest base runner in baseball,
steals a run on a ball that glanced off the glove of McGuire,
went behind him about four or five feet. Hosey never hesitated, the pitcher
never covered the plate, and so it'll be a stolen base for Naylor and
a pass ball that enabled Hosey to score. And Jose Ramirez just continues to
be a one man wrecking crew at six to four Cleveland. He is something
special and we get to watch him every day. Wow. And once again
it was a Manuel class a on to close things out in the ninth on
field playing ref Snyder as if he were a left handed pull hitter. The
one two pitch, a swing in a little weak pop, shallow left arius
near the foul line, makes a catch ball game and the Guardians have another
series win. They take five out of seven from Boston here in twenty twenty
four, and they win the finale today six to four, So a nice
finish to the homestand for the Guardians. And then it was on the road,
opening up the series here in Atlanta on Friday night, and after an
early start with a home run off the bat of Stephen Kwan, it was
all Braves after that, and Chris Sailor was terrific plenty of offense for Atlanta
in a six to two Brave victory over the Guardians. Game two of the
series Saturday night, seven twenty and the series wraps up Sunday afternoon at one
thirty five. Stay with us when we come back. We'll hear from outfielder
Stephen Kwan. That's next a Cleveland clinic. Guardians Radio Network. When you
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your favorite teams terrible and frankly embarrassing performances now wherever. Welcome back to Guardians
Weekly. Jim Rosenhouse along with you from Truest Park in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Guardian's taking on the Braves this weekend. They haven't been here to Atlanta
since the twenty sixteen season when they played at Old Turner Field. It's their
first visit here to a beautiful new ballpark and Truest Field. Stephen Kuan's been
off to a red hot started to play for the Guardians this season. He
has been at or among the league leaders in batting through the first three four
weeks of the campaign and with him being on a tier since the season began,
he talked about what's allowed him to get off to a great start.
Yeah, I think a lot of it is being aggressive of balls in zone.
I think last year and even the first year, identity was kind of
like support role. See a bunch of pitches, allow Hosy and all of
them to kind of get a feel for what the pitcher has and then that
kind of put me in some tough spots, a lot of two shrike counts,
and I can work my way in two shrike counts, but you know,
to really slug and yeah, that is really hard. So I think
giving myself a little more credit this year and swingers, some pitches and zone
are really helping. And it seems like with men on base or our base
is loaded, maybe even ramp that up even further. Is that a plan
of attack when when you do have a chance to drive in some runs?
Yeah, absolutely, I think uh Hegi and a couple other of the coaches
said it really well, you know, like I think for us like Runnings
competition, it's nervous, nerve wracking for us as hitters, but even more
more nerve wracking for the pitchers, like you know, they're changing their whole
kind of strategy when Runnings on base, taking advantage of that and understanding like
you know, they're the ones in a tough spot right now, like I
should be comfortable attacking, being aggressive, and then you know, trying to
push the envelope. It sounds like a great plan, but I'm sure it
doesn't always work. But the team as a team is over three hundred right
now, men in scoring position. So can that go up and down the
lineup? Yeah? I think so. You can have a plan and that's
kind of the foundation. You know, execution is obviously way harder, and
then obviously baseball is going to do its thing. You know, you can
hit a ball really hard and somebody catches it. But I think if we
can kind of stick to that plan and whatever plan is for that day,
I think we're gonna be a good spot. Not sure if you heard the
other night after the game, Josh Naylor was complimentary of you in that you
get this thing going. You've been a leadoff hitter a lot in your career
even before pro ball. How enjoyable and how natural it is is it for
you now to be in that spot where you set the table. Yeah,
it's a lot of fun. It's a huge honor, obviously. It's again
that's it was kind of my identity before as being that support role character,
just trying to do anything I can, like if I get out communicate to
the team. It's definitely familiar home. It's definitely difficult at times as well,
when you don't see a guy you're kind of the guinea pig out there
trying to figure out what the guy has that day. But it's a lot
of fun. It's definitely a huge privilege and one that I love being a
part of. And team wise, you kind of touched on it in the
spring about last year and the challenges, especially for some of the younger players.
In hindsight, something that that has kind of fueled this season when when
you look at it the way it's gone so far. Yeah, I think
so. I think last year was a huge indicator of how how maybe not
to go by things. I think that was a huge step for a lot
of players, including myself, on like preparation kind of what we're trying to
do. Having that year of experience, I think with all of us has
been super instrumental. I think you kind of feel more more comfortable, You
feel like you belong in a lot of those things. It seems like it's
working out so far. The fun factor. It seems like this team's having
a ton of fun. I'm sure winning is a big part of that,
but I feel like it was happening maybe even before some of the dramatic victories.
Is there anyone in particular or a certain thing that's spurring that on and
making this a really fun bop club. Yeah. Absolutely, Hedges makes it
always a lot of fun. I like to say that he's always he's usually
the one saying the dumbestuff in the locker room. So when he's saying the
dumbest stuff, people aren't afraid to say dumb things as well. And I
think when you can feel looser and more like yourself, that just creates a
really good locker room. He's always saying some outrageous stuff and he's yelling,
we're all yelling. We're just really pulling for each other. It feels like
a real team. It doesn't feel like, you know, we're coworkers or
any of that. Like we enjoy seeing each other. We hang out with
each other off the fields. It's a good group of guys. Now,
Steven as always thanks for the time. Appreciate it. Yeah, appreciate it.
Rosie always fun to visit and talk hitting among other things. With Steven
Kwan and the offense taking care of business early in the season, so has
the bullpen with some unfamiliar arms from years past, including Hunter Gattis, who's
been terrific this season. He's made that transition from being a starting pitcher to
the bullpen, and he talked about how much he's enjoying that new role and
that it's exceeded even his own expectations so far. Definitely. I mean,
I'm really just enjoying it. You know. I told Vote and you know
the rest of the guys when we first got in a spring training I'll say,
I just want the ball, you know, I just want the ball.
I want to throw the ball as many time as I can, whatever
it is, starting or leaving, I didn't care. So but it's been
going well. When did you realize it that this would be the role?
At what point in spring training when they told me like four or five days
left to spring training? Probably, I mean I kind of noticed I was
only going out for one inning towards the in the spring training, so I
kind of figured, but uh, you know, there's still a little doubt
of like maybe there's something maybe not. But then once when they officially told
me, I was like, Okay, what's been the biggest difference you think
in this role as opposed to when you were starting. I mean you could
just go and you know, if it's one inning, just go out and
give one hundred and ten percent of whatever you got that day. You know
we're starting, it's like you kind of you ease into the game. You
know, you don't just throw every pitch as physically hard as you can per
se. So it's nice to just be able to go, like, you
know, let it deeper inning and it seems like you have a different persona
on the mound now. Maybe not, I don't know. Do you approach
it differently when you got there now and especially in key spots late in the
game. Oh yeah, you know, I like to it's a little psycho
mode. I've always pitched better or angry, and I, you know,
starting it's like I can't, like I said, I can, you know,
give one hundred and ten on every single pitch. But you know,
in this relieve in this role is you know, it's really just psycho mode.
Go let it eat. So you say you're angry, Does anyone have
to because you're a gentle giant and one of the nicest people on the team.
Does someone get you riled up before you go out there? No,
I know where to find it. You know, multiple years of you know,
my dad knows the secret too of I pitch better angry. So I
know how to you know, he he helped me growing up get to that
mode, you know, or it helps me to perform. But I know
how to get there, and you know what it takes to get to that
spot. You mentioned being accepted in the bullpen. There's not some initiation you
have to go through, is there. No, it's just you know last
year when I would kind of show up, you know, there's always just
jokes around like, oh yeah, you know you're a starter. You're a
starter, you know, just messing around it all. It's all fun and
games. But it's just good, you know, to be out there.
Everybody's supporting each other. So it's real nice. When you look at the
series coming up with the Atlanta Braves, you're going back home first time in
the major leagues. What's what are you looking forward or two about that?
I mean, spend time with the family, you know, especially nobody has
to travel too far. You know, I don't have to worry about where
they're going to stay the night. You know, they used to go back
home, so uh, it'll just be nice. You know, I've grew
up around there, you know, was a Braves fan early on, and
uh, it'll just be nice to actually play in a game inside the field,
and you mentioned being a Braves fan, any particular players that you grew
up following and enjoying watching. Yeah, Rock Hill for Call, way back
in the day, Jipper Jones, you know those were the two like big
times growing up, that was it. And so decisions on road trips that
that not many have to make. But uh, you could you could stay
at home? Did did they save a bed for you? Or is your
room still intact where you grew up? Hi, I would have to ask.
I'm sure, I'm sure my mom, will you know, figure something
out? I'm sure say would love it. You know, maybe a night
I can go spend at home, but uh, I don't know. I
like the hotel too. It's nice maybe get away for a little bit too.
So we'll all part of a new road trip starting for the Guardians.
Hunter, thanks Loft for coming. I appreciate it. Thank you, appreciate
you man. It's Hunter gaddis sure having a great weekend here in Atlanta as
he comes back home to pitch in front of the home folks. Stay with
us when we come back. We'll hear from starting pitchers Tanner Bibby and Ben
Lively. That's next. As we continue with Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Clinic
Guardians Radio Network, runners will be moving on this three to two pitch.
Here it comes and McCann swings and missus the change up again. It's been
his best pitch today, Iby with this fourth strikeout. Guardians Weekly continues from
Atlanta, where the Guardians are taking on the braves this weekend. Jim Rosenhouse
along with you. Great to have you with us on Saturday morning. If
you're listening in on our flagship station WTAM, or if you're listening to us
in podcast form wherever you download your favorite podcasts. You know that the Guardians
are off to a good start this season, and a lot of that has
been good starting pitching, including from one of last year's solid rookies, Tanner
Byby, now in his first full major league season, pitched well in a
win over Oakland last Sunday, and we caught up with him afterwards and he
talked about his progression since his first outing of the season, and he says
he's finally pleased with how things are going the last two starts. Yeah,
definitely, I feel like the last two starts have been definitely more me.
I mean, I don't think I'm like I said, always said, there's
no one's to finished product yet, but I think I'm getting closer and closer
to where i can be comfortable ever start, be more efficient every start,
and I think I'm just doing better and better every start. And when you
look at that progression, I'm sure everyone would like to get out of the
gate throwing their best right away. But is it just not realistic sometimes?
I mean sometimes no, I mean sometimes you're working through body stuff and some
mental stuff. I think getting out of the gates hot is a I don't
want to say it's a rare thing, but it's definitely difficult because I mean,
coming off the year last year and coming right into this year, it's
very different. And I think being able to kind of come back from the
start I had, I think it was, Uh, it's good. I
like where I'm at right now. How about transitioning from spring training to regular
season. What's the biggest difference when when you look at a start during the
spring to a regular season start. Regular season starts matter. There. You're
in a big stadium, You're back to where you were at the end of
the year, and it's a it's it's night and day. I mean,
there's a reason people say that spring training doesn't really matter too much, So
yeah, you just got a It's a very big difference where you live.
I mean the weather here from Arizona is also super different. So yeah,
stay with us. Will have more with Tanner Bibby after this short break.
Tanner, I know when we talked in the spring, you mentioned you had
worked on some things in the off season. Are you seeing the fruits of
that coming into play here as you get deeper into the season. Yeah.
I think that's the one thing throw my entire starts has been the best is
my actual stuff. I think my stuff has been really good. It's more
about throwing quality pitches and commanding the zone, which I think the last two
starts I think I definitely have done. So I think I think we're almost
there. We're almost to a good spot. And team wise, what a
start for this team. I hesitate to say, did you see this coming
in the spring, But obviously you're always confident. But what is it about
this team early on that's allowed it to have a good amount of success.
I think it's just the chemistry and the energy and the wine to win.
I think with how young we are and at everyone's stage out without their career,
I think it's a good thing for us to have energy, for us
to have some fun. And I think that's what we're doing. I think
that the first is it twenty one games. I think we've out energized a
lot of team games. I think we've out chemistried a lot of teams,
and I think we've out wanted it in my opinion. But yeah, that's
what I would say is helping us a lot. How does that chemistry happen?
It Is it just because a lot of you played together in the minor
leagues? I mean definitely helps. I mean I feel like a lot of
us play together in the minor leagues. I mean we got some good veterans
and hedgy and cookie. Now. I think it's just a good, a
nice, healthy mix. And I think everyone it's just good people. I
think everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to win for each other, everyone
wants each other to do well. I think it's just a good recipe for
success, and obviously you enjoy each other's company. Off day. Yesterday you
go to the Cavs game. What did you think of that? All scene?
Over there. Oh my god, that was amazing. I mean they
I've heard that they've showed out for Calves games, but that was my first
one, first basketball game ever that I've been to professionally. But they showed
out, and I mean the Cavs dominated all games, so it was really
fun to watch. All right, Tanner, Well, you've been fun to
watch too. Is the season gets going here? Thanks Left for coming.
I appreciate it. Yeah, absolutely, thank you. And starting pitchers Tanner
Biby, who's joined in the rotation by Ben Lively, who had a late
start to his season because of an illness during spring training, but in his
two starts, both against Boston, he's been terrific, and he talked about
how he's been able to catch up and get back on track so quickly.
I mean, you're staying with my strengths and just keeping my pitches competitive,
throwing the ball over the plate and get in the head. Tuesday night against
the Red Sox, second time you face them and back to back starts,
is that a challenge in terms of how you approach that. I mean in
a way, I mean you always had like the voice in the back of
your heads, like, oh they've seen everything before, Like you got to
mix up everything, but it was kind of the same game plan. We
just mixed the sides of the blade and up and down. So it's two
strong starts of a season that was delayed for fans who don't know you missed
some time in spring training due to a virus that really it seemed like it
hit almost everybody on the ball club. How tough was it for you?
How long were you down, and how bad a shape were you in at
a certain point. I mean like the third day again that that was I
couldn't even get out of my bed and I felt just like worn out.
I was sweating like all night long and I'd get real freezing, and yeah,
ended up losing like twelve fifteen pounds. And the first day I tried
to play catch, it was like I was using my whole body to throw
like sixty feet and I was like this sucks. Like the yeah then just
they just I mean, yeah, I was messed up. Me and Zay
were kind of on the same program and we were both knocked down and we
started building up together and it was pretty fun. You get to work with
him, and you know, we got started getting competitive and just keep on
going. And in your situation though, you're you're with a new ball club
and you want to make that impression. How tough was that to not be
able to do that? Oh? I mean yeah, there's nothing you can
do about it. And that's what I thought about, and I was like
the only thing I was telling myself was getting my body ready and make sure
everything's healthy and ready to go. Starting picture Ben Lively joining us and Ben,
you you arrive here with Cleveland with an interesting career under your belt.
It included some time in Korea. Tell us about that time spent. What
did it mean to you to be able to go over there in terms of
your career and what did it do to help you? I mean, yeah,
it was wild. There was really cool, really cool culture shock and
I ate everything. It was so cool seeing all the traditional stuff and all
the like everything they had to offer. It was so cool. But for
me, over there was just like a really growing up moment. Like even
if you have a bad game, you can sull it, can get mad
all you want to, but like over there just put in perspective for me
that there was no one there. It was like, dude, figure it
out, Like like you got to figure out now and like that kind of
progressed me to like be more disciplined, like I am now, Like I
I feel like now I don't get as frustrated about a lot of the small
things that did earlier in my career. So it sounds like for you it
was an adventure. Not everybody looks at it that way. How come you
did? Like? How did you arrive at that mindset when you went over
there? Oh, I'm always like that. If I'm somewhere cool, I
want to go walk around and see what they have to offer. I want
to go look in the mountains. I want to go golf, I want
to go check out the beach. Of course, I'm gonna look for waves
everywhere. But it was I mean, yeah, it's just that's just who
I am. I like being outside. So what are you looking forward to
in Cleveland this summer? Have you kind of done some research on some fun
things you can do? Definitely a rock and roll Hall of Fame. Definitely
gotta go there and probably gonna spend a full day staring at everything. But
do that, and I'm gonna check out the beaches here, who knows,
probably go fishing here too, and fishing wise, it runs in your family.
Explain just how deep those roots are for you to be on the water.
No, since birth. Yeah, my dad's been fishing since his senior
year of high school. And that's what I grew up doing on the side
and wouldn't change it for anything. I can't wait to do it when I'm
done playing too. You've been with a bunch of ball clubs, different organizations.
What's been fun about this group so far? Just I mean, everyone's
just so positive and it's awesome, Like everyone like you look at everyone,
It's like no one's gonna be yes. It's like this is the coolest vibe
to walk into, and it just like makes everybody confident, Like even if
you're struggling a little bit, you're gonna see that and feed off everybody else
and you're gonna keep being competitive and keep getting better no matter what. Nice
going again last night, Ben, thanks a lot for coming back. Appreciate
it. That is Ben Lively who has been a real nice shot in the
arm for the rotation, especially with the injury that has ended the season for
Shane Bieber. It's all hands on deck now and Lively has done some nice
work so far. In his two starts. Stay with us while we come
back. We'll have a minor league report with Rob Sortfolio, the director Player
Development. That's next time the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. Now the two
strength pitch Strength three called what an Inning for Ben Lively has Ben Lively with
a ten pitch third inning. There's now three strikeouts in the game and we
are scoreless in the middle of the third. When you switch and save with
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not sit in front of you at the game, rendering your excellency. It's
just okay, Welcome back. It's Guardians Weekly from Atlanta. This week,
Jim Rosenhouse along with you for our final segment. As always, we try
and catch up with Rob's sortfolio, the director of player development for the Guardians,
and this week that meant a phone call down to lynch Berg, Virginuary.
He's taking in some of the action from the single A ball club there
and we start on the position side with Rob and one of the top players
on that position front is Ralphie Velasquez. Just eighteen years of age. He's
last year's first round draft pick for the Guardians, and Rob talked about how
he's handled that jump to the next level at such a young age in the
farm system, you use the word young that that would almost be an understatement
for some of the physician players we have on this team, which which is
awesome. You know, part of that is a result of just some of
the new rules in minor league baseball. You know, five or six years
ago, there was a level in between rookie ball and the full season squad.
That level doesn't really exist anymore. So you can get a lot of
these really talented but young players, and a lot of them are high schoolers
too that you haven't really lived on their own, whether it's in college or
wherever. So it creates a really cool set of challenges as guys are trying
to just adapt to the highest level of baseball they've ever played, but also
really being on their own, like driving their own routine at the field away
from the field. When you mentioned Ralfie, who you know, obviously we
took in the first round last year. High school kid got a taste of
pro ball in Arizona, and man, he's transitioned really nicely so far for
the Hillcats. And one of the things that's fun of about watching him play
is is just the professionalism and how he goes about his at bats, the
consistency. You know, he really manages the zone well, he can put
a charge into the baseball. There's some, you know, pretty impressive things
he does in the batter's box. You know, our staff here in Lunchburg
has done a great job of putting a plan in place to continue to allow
him to impact both sides of the ball. And another young position player that
you have with some interesting bloodlines for sure, Jason Churio playing the outfield off
to a nice start too, and what are you seeing from him. Yeah,
you know, I think a lot of people know his older brother,
Jackson, and we're pretty excited about the younger, the younger of the two
cheerios that we get to work with every day. And you know, similar
similar to Ralfie, just another young kid, just eighteen years old, going
to be nineteen in the middle of the season. So two really young players
that are talented. And I think the thing that's exciting about both of them
is they come to the field ready to work every day and and Jason is
has a chance to impact the ball really in kind of the five tools areas,
Like he gets on base a ton, he doesn't strike out, and
he's learning how as he develops physically to kind of tap into some of his
strength and power offensively. He's a switch hitter. His brother just hits right,
and Jason hits from both sides of the plate. And we're continuing to
just you know, raise the raise the bar on what he's able to do
and and so that you know, hopefully in a couple of years when he's
facing upper level pitching, you know he's able to impact the ball from both
sides of the plate, but center field, right field, fans will see
him playing all over the place in the outfield as we just continue to add
versatility to his plate. But you know, really smart kid, comes from
a great family, and uh, you know, we're we're really excited to
see how he does in his first full season as well as Ralphie and I
know you love middle endfielders. Your shortstop at Lynchburg is on hell Hanoah.
And what has he done to put himself on the radar? Yeah, So
you know, this is a kid that got a chance to come to this
level last year, So Ralphie, you know, he's kind of the Ralphie
and Cherio of this team in twenty twenty three. So it was a really
young kid that we challenged. He's now repeating the level at nineteen years old,
and man, it's noticeable to jump that he's made. And this is
a kid that worked with us a lot in the offseason on you know,
some of the finer elements of his defense is throwing, like making sure he's
inaccurate thrower of the baseball. There are some mechanical work we did do ensure
that short stop was a position that he could play long term, and he
really worked on his body added some really good strength, just continues to get
better athletically, and I think that's shown through so far when you're looking at
some of the things he did last year and some of the things he's doing
this year. He's really raised his game from a complete player side of things.
He's playing an awesome short stop. He's also bounced around playing some second
and third. To your point, Rosie is, I think our organizations become
well known for loving mental infielders. We got to make sure those guys are
versatile, given how many of them we have. But he now has done
an awesome job, and he's been a great teammate, you know, vocal
leader on the bench, really pulling up some of his teammates that are a
little bit younger. And he's kind of, you know, at twenty years
old somehow the veteran of the position players on this team and using his experience
to his advantage so far. Rob s Folio joining us the director of player
development for the Guardians, and we're talking single Aid Lynchburg this week and some
good young arms down there. Let's start with a high school drafted kid from
a year ago, Alex clemmy big arm from the left side. What are
you seeing so far from him? Yeah, well you hit it right there,
big arm from the left side. Really just in the infancy stages of
learning how to pitch professionally, and it is awesome when you get a chance
to work with a kid that is as talented as clem Is. I mean,
this is a big, physical lefty. You'll see him up tonight six
ninety seven. Last night he threw was up to ninety six, was really
commanding all three pitches out of the gate. And now it's really just about
getting him experience, putting him in the environment where he's going to get challenged
to throw strikes. He's going to get challenged to use his best stuff in
executing game, and it's gonna be a really fun summer. I mean,
this kid has has a really strong desire to be great. He shows up
every day, he's working his tail off to get better, really refine his
delivery, and it's just it's a it's really cool to see young guys like
this that come in that are super talented but with a strong desire to just
continue to get better and better. And I know you mentioned Jackson Humphreys is
another young high school drafted player who you're excited about on the mound. How
come Jackson's another high school kid in North Carolina in twenty twenty two, also
has big stuff from the left side. You know, he battled a little
bit of an illness out of the gate, which was unfortunate as he got
settled in here to theffiliates. So we haven't gotten to see him in some
extended outings yet, but you know, he started his season last year in
the ACL made it up to Lynchburg for a couple of starts and really showcased,
you know, some of the some of the big stuff that he has,
and I think as he gets healthy, we'll start to see some of
that settle in here as well. But just you know, the common theme
with all these guys is talented young player that's going to have to adapt to
a lot of new things and his first year as a you know, at
a full season affiliate, and just all the challenges that come with performing early,
making sure they're taking their body to be ready to go by the dog
days of summer. So it's going to be an exciting progression for these guys
is as we continue to push them, you know, both on and off
the field and one more picture, Matt Wilkinson college drafted picture. Do you
notice the experience difference at that level? You do? And you know,
I'm glad his name's coming up because you know, you just look at his
his draft profile. Know he's a tenth rounder signed for you know, right
around what slot value is for for that pick. But you know, maybe
a guy that hasn't gotten some of the prospect type is some of the other
names we've talked about so far. But man, this guy can pitch.
It's really impressive. Whether he's thrown in a bullpen or he's throwing in game.
If you see this guy down on the count, that's probably a unicorn
right there. I mean, this this is some elite strike throwing with with
really impressive ability to command the baseball and in command three pitches. And you
know, he's obviously gotten off to a tremendous start for the Hillcats. And
you know, I think him to your point, having a little bit of
experience in college, you know, makes him stand out just with with with
how he pitches versus you know, some of some of the young guys.
But you know, this is this is an exciting lefty. I mean,
just a trio of really exciting lefties. And you know, while wilk doesn't
have maybe the top end stuff with the velocity that that calam and Jackson do
his field to pitch, his ability to throw three pitches for strikes is really
encouraging. And a guy that I'm glad you know is getting a call out.
Great stuff as always, Rob, enjoyed the rest of your time down
in Lynchberg, and we'll catch up with you soon, all right, Rosie,
I appreciate it. And just an update on Matt Wilkinson. After Rob
talked about him glowingly well, that night, Wilkinson went out and had the
game of his young pro career, six no hit innings with fifteen strikeouts.
The young man they affectionately called the tug boat, and he promotes that six
one two sixty is a big man and he is off to a great start
in his minor league career. He might not be in Lynchburg long. The
next start could be somewhere else up the minor league ladder. We'll see where
the tugboat Matt Wilkinson. But it was interesting because Rob had all those great
things to say, and then he went out and backed it up that night
in front of the farm Director down in Lynchburg. But it's going to do
it for our show this week. As always, thanks to Brian Motsee for
putting together the show each and every week. We'll join you next weekend back
home when the Guardians are playing the Angels at Progressive Field. Until then,
this is Jim rosen House reminding you that you've been listening to Guardians Weekly on
the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. Guardians Weekly has been brought to you by
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