WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:07.400 Welcome to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network. Guardians Weekly is front 2 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:47.280 to you by Progressive helping Guardians fans save hundreds on car insurance. Hi, 3 00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:52.520 everyone, this is Guardians Weekly. Shimros in house along with you from Wrigley 4 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:57.479 Field in Chicago where the Guardians are taking on the Cubs this weekend in a 5 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:00.880 three game series. Coming up a little bit later on in our show, 6 00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:03.879 we will have a full farm report dealing with the Lake County Captains, the 7 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:08.519 single a entry for the Guardians in their farm system with Director of Player Development 8 00:01:08.599 --> 00:01:14.480 Rob Sorfolio. We'll also talk hitting with Guardians hitting coach Chris Felka, as 9 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:19.239 the team put together a much better month of June than they did the first 10 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:23.480 two months of the season as things started to click offensively. Ham will also 11 00:01:23.599 --> 00:01:27.400 check in with Will Brennan, who had an opportunity to return home and play 12 00:01:27.480 --> 00:01:30.480 in front of a lot of hometown fans when the team was in Kansas City 13 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:34.920 earlier this week. But first I look back at the weekend review and we 14 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:38.480 mentioned that series in KC and quite a series it turned out to be for 15 00:01:38.719 --> 00:01:44.159 Cleveland, as the opener on Tuesday night featured a two to one win, 16 00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:48.079 but it was difficult to get there. Now good pictures. Duel shaped up 17 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:52.680 early as Brady Singer for Kansas City had it going, and so did Guardians 18 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:57.920 rookie right hander Gavin Williams, who looked outstanding in his second major league start. 19 00:01:57.239 --> 00:02:01.439 Two ounce nominy on base, no score, bottom of the seventh Gavin 20 00:02:01.480 --> 00:02:07.800 Williams pitch number ninety two is a curveball hit in the air. Routine left 21 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:13.319 center. Stephen Quan is there. And if this is it for Gavin Williams, 22 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:19.759 how about this night? Seven shutout innings of one hit baseball. He 23 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:24.599 just dominated the strike zone and we go to the eighth scoreless. Kansas City 24 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:28.759 broke through for the game's first run in the eighth inning, and it could 25 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:31.560 have been much more, but bow Naylor shut down the threat with a spectacular 26 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:37.080 play from behind the plate. Now they sent now the pitch to Freddie Fermin. 27 00:02:37.159 --> 00:02:39.599 The runner takes off high throw on a pitch out throw to second by 28 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:46.280 Nailer. He still got him. WHOA what a play by Nailer. He 29 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:51.159 called a pitch out. Stephen didn't throw a pitch out, He just threw 30 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:54.319 it high over the plate. Naylor had to lunch back to grab it, 31 00:02:54.759 --> 00:03:00.360 spin around, throw to second, and throughout the runner. You may never 32 00:03:00.439 --> 00:03:07.479 see a better throwout than the one we just saw from Bull Nailer. So 33 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:09.680 the Guardians had one more chance to win it in the ninth or at least 34 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:14.360 tie it. And Josh Nailor got things started with a single, then a 35 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:17.759 one out walked to Andreas Jimenez put two men aboard for the hometown kid, 36 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:22.479 Will Brennan. The pitts. Brennan rips one down the right field, life 37 00:03:22.520 --> 00:03:27.680 fairball and into the corner that'll score. Arius Jimenez is being waved around. 38 00:03:28.039 --> 00:03:31.560 No throw to the plate. Will Brennon with a two run double into the 39 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:37.199 right field corner and the Guardians have a two to one lead in the ninth 40 00:03:37.520 --> 00:03:43.879 and Barlow went back to another breaking ball and Brennan was all over it and 41 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:49.599 a three hit game for Will Brennan is thirteenth double, giving him twenty three 42 00:03:49.759 --> 00:03:54.159 rbiys and Cleveland has a two to one lead with two here in the ninth 43 00:03:55.400 --> 00:03:59.000 on to protect the lead. In the bottom half of the ninth inning, 44 00:03:59.240 --> 00:04:05.479 closer Manuel classe Clause's ready here it comes a swing in a chomper the short 45 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:12.240 charged by Rosario Gloves throws the first ball game and the Guardians get a two 46 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:16.399 run double in the top of the ninth from Will Brennan and stun the Kansas 47 00:04:16.439 --> 00:04:21.160 City Royals two to one. So a real nice win for the Guardians, 48 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:25.399 pulling one out of the hat late and winning it by a score of two 49 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:29.199 to one on Tuesday, and that brought them to Wednesday and a rarity in 50 00:04:29.240 --> 00:04:32.120 this season, a game where the Guardians could put it on cruise control about 51 00:04:32.199 --> 00:04:36.959 midway through and really enjoy a lopsided win. The big day started in the 52 00:04:38.040 --> 00:04:42.319 third inning. A single in two walks loaded the basis for one of baseball's 53 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:48.600 hottest hitters, Jose Ramirez. Royal's infield double play depth the pitch and he 54 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:55.680 swings in lines one to deep left field. This ball is gone. It's 55 00:04:55.720 --> 00:05:03.439 a line drive grand slam home run. The Cleveland bullpen in left and a 56 00:05:03.560 --> 00:05:11.360 Jose Ramirez when the first grand slam of the year for Cleveland, his fifth 57 00:05:11.480 --> 00:05:19.439 career grand slam, and Austin Cox pays the ultimate price, walking people ahead 58 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:25.879 of a Jose Ramirez in the fifth with a runner on, Josh Bell stepped 59 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:30.360 in. Here comes the old one. Swung on, and that's lifted high 60 00:05:30.360 --> 00:05:33.480 and deep to right center. Oh, look out in the fountains and it 61 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:41.879 is a splashdown. Josh Bell goes deep into the fountains in right center. 62 00:05:42.920 --> 00:05:47.480 Two more on the board for Cleveland and it's now six nothing. Oh my, 63 00:05:48.399 --> 00:05:55.240 a majestic blast for Josh Bell as he hits home run number eight on 64 00:05:55.480 --> 00:06:00.680 the season. Then in the sixth the Guardians removed any doubt. Miles Straw 65 00:06:00.759 --> 00:06:03.720 got it started with a base hit. Then bon Nailer came to the plate. 66 00:06:04.360 --> 00:06:10.199 The set the pitch and it swung on, hit pretty well to left 67 00:06:10.199 --> 00:06:14.319 center. Long run for water. Still going back, this ball is gone. 68 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:20.000 Boonenailer with his first major league home run, a two run. The 69 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:26.600 home run the opposite way to left center, and the Guardians, in a 70 00:06:26.839 --> 00:06:32.079 rare breakout of home run derby, lead the Royals eight to nothing, with 71 00:06:32.360 --> 00:06:38.600 all eight runs coming on three home runs. Tonight, Stephen Quan followed with 72 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:44.279 a single. Then Ahmed Rosario came through. Now the two old pitch swung 73 00:06:44.360 --> 00:06:47.240 on, ripped a right field base hit near the line. Melndez has to 74 00:06:47.399 --> 00:06:51.199 dive cuts it off on the warning track. Now the ball sports free around 75 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:56.879 third coming for home is Quon. He'll score Rosario keeps motoring to third, 76 00:06:57.639 --> 00:07:01.560 and that'll be an RBI triple from Ed Rosario. And it's a nine nothing 77 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:08.879 Cleveland lead. Great effort in that right field corner by Melendez trying to cut 78 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:13.879 the ball off. He dove after it on the warning track and started to 79 00:07:13.959 --> 00:07:17.560 smother it and then had squirted free of him and rolled toward the wall. 80 00:07:17.639 --> 00:07:23.519 And in this ballpark mentioned it at the outset. I mean, you have 81 00:07:23.639 --> 00:07:28.560 a boatload of triples and even inside the park home runs in this place, 82 00:07:29.279 --> 00:07:34.199 and I'm d Rosario now has gone back on top of the league in triples 83 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:40.759 with five. After a walk to Jose Ramirez, Josh Naylor kept the rally 84 00:07:40.839 --> 00:07:46.279 going again. The payoff pitch swung on roped into right field of a sit 85 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:48.480 near the line. It'll go to the wall. That is going to score 86 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:54.879 Rosario. Ramire is flying into third, stops there and chugging into second with 87 00:07:54.920 --> 00:08:00.480 another RBI double as Josh Naylor and the Guardians have hit for the cycle. 88 00:08:00.639 --> 00:08:05.199 Here in the sixth inning, Naylor has made it a ten nothing ball game 89 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:11.519 with his second double, his fifty eighth RBI, and then Josh Bell's big 90 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:16.240 day continued. The pitch hit on the ground toward third, it's a fair 91 00:08:16.279 --> 00:08:20.839 ball base hit down the left field line. In the score are both Premiers 92 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:26.000 and Nailer head first slide and a two run double for Josh Bell. And 93 00:08:26.199 --> 00:08:33.919 Bell has knocked in four and he inside out of that ball inside the bag 94 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:37.799 down the third base line, and it ends up being one of those innings 95 00:08:37.799 --> 00:08:45.200 where anything Cleveland is hitting is finding a hole. And the Guardians have added 96 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:50.879 six runs to their lead twelve nothing Cleveland. Will Brennan added an RBI on 97 00:08:50.919 --> 00:08:54.799 a ground out to cap off the seven run sixth inning, and the Guardians 98 00:08:54.799 --> 00:09:00.919 were on top thirteen nothing. One more run came in the seventh again courtesy 99 00:09:01.240 --> 00:09:05.960 of jose Ramirez. If you include tonight. In the last eighteen games, 100 00:09:07.559 --> 00:09:16.120 Jose is batting over four hundred with thirteen extra base hits and twenty armies. 101 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:20.080 Now the one old swung at in rope to write down the line and goes 102 00:09:20.159 --> 00:09:26.120 fareball. It'll ricochet and roll around in that right field corner, hitting third 103 00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:30.639 and coming home is Nailer. Josey will put the brakes on a second and 104 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:35.320 it is fourteen to noth in Cleveland. Ramirez with a two out BB down 105 00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:41.000 the right field line. He has knocked in five and that is double number 106 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:48.919 twenty one. And right now Ramirez is as hot as we have seen really 107 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:54.639 since last year before he tore that ligament into his thumb. Kansas City did 108 00:09:54.639 --> 00:09:58.440 get a run in the bottom half of the seventh to break up the shutout 109 00:09:58.480 --> 00:10:01.200 bid, and then in the night Tim Herron was on to finish things up. 110 00:10:01.399 --> 00:10:07.440 Harron's ready. The big lefty cents and the payoff pitch swang in a 111 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:13.519 mess ball game, and the Guardians have won a series and we'll look for 112 00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:18.840 a sweep tomorrow. Cleveland, with its most lop sided win of the campaign, 113 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:26.080 banners to Kansas City Royals tonight fourteen no one. So the Guardians had 114 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:31.919 their largest run output of the season in a game and also a single inning 115 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:35.600 with the fourteen runs in the ball game and the seven run inning as the 116 00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:41.879 offense was really clicking on Wednesday. Then on Thursday, a memorable game to 117 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:45.840 be sure, a loss though for the Guardians as they fell four to three 118 00:10:45.879 --> 00:10:48.519 to Kansas City in ten innings. It was a good battle that went to 119 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:52.120 extra innings, tied at two, and in the top half of the tenth 120 00:10:52.120 --> 00:10:56.320 inning. Jose Ramirez was the runner that started at second base. He got 121 00:10:56.320 --> 00:11:01.480 to third on a ground out, and then his chapman got a strikeout for 122 00:11:01.559 --> 00:11:05.080 the second out in the inning. Andre Simenez was the batter. And you 123 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:11.240 can't believe what happened next with Ramirez at third base the two strength pitch. 124 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:16.240 Here comes Ramires throw to the plate, high head first, slide out at 125 00:11:16.279 --> 00:11:22.279 the plate. Jose waves to the dugout says, challenge it. How about 126 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:28.679 that Jose Ramirez trying to steal whole plate? He says he got the hand 127 00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:35.759 in before the tang of Perez. And he here comes acting manager Tomorrow o'haile 128 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:43.159 and Josie, as daring and as smart a base runner as there is in 129 00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:50.159 the game. And now we await the critical decision from the replay crew in 130 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:56.440 New York. Here it comes after you calling the field is overturned. How 131 00:11:56.639 --> 00:12:05.120 about that Jose Amiraz has stolen home plate. He knew it and he has 132 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:13.240 stolen the home with two outs and two strengths on Andre Simenez and Cleveland has 133 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:18.360 a three to two lead here in the tenth inning. Incredible, Why it 134 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:22.200 seemed like that might be enough with Emmanuel class coming on to try and close 135 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:26.559 it out, but in the bottom of the tenth, the Royals put a 136 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:30.519 couple of runners on base, and Freddie for mean pinch hitting, walked it 137 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:35.120 off with an RBI two run double to give Kansas City the four to three 138 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:39.080 win. On Friday, the opener of the series here in Chicago, all 139 00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:43.879 Cubs ten to one, a loss for the Guardians to open the three games 140 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:46.919 set. Stay with us when we come back. We'll hear from outfielder Will 141 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:52.720 Brennan. That's after this time out on the Cleveland Clinic. Guardians Radio Network 142 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:58.559 and Progressive we love sports and saving your money, so we bundled them together. 143 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:01.600 The final horse now in the and they're off. They're shutting off with 144 00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:05.919 a double turloo jump, leaving a difficult seven ten splint. It says, 145 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:09.039 moving on the inside rail only nine pin center them. Now is the head 146 00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:11.480 of the final quart of mile. Their neck and neck. It's down to 147 00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:16.519 the last frame. Here comes the ancial jump. They bundled their home at 148 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:22.200 Auto insurance with Progressive. When strikes savings goal Progressive Casual teen Insurance Company affiliates 149 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:35.840 another insurance just counting not available in all stage or situations. Jim Rose announced 150 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:39.600 back with You It's Guardians Weekly from Wrigley Field in Chicago, where the Guardians 151 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:45.279 are taking on the Cubs this weekend at ten to one Cubs victory on Friday. 152 00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:50.000 The series continuing on Saturday night with a seven fifteen first pitch Cleveland time, 153 00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:56.399 and then it closes on Sunday a two twenty first pitch here at Rigley 154 00:13:56.600 --> 00:14:00.759 to close out the road swing. Will Brennan had a memorable reap turn home 155 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:05.200 to the Kansas City area in Kansas City, the Guardians are playing. He's 156 00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:09.879 from Stillwell, Kansas, which is about about thirty minutes or so outside of 157 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:13.360 Kansas City, but a lot of great memories growing up for most of his 158 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:18.000 childhood in that area, and on Tuesday picked up the game winning base hit 159 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:22.519 in front of his hometown friends and family. We caught up with him before 160 00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:26.200 that game and he told us a little bit about his upbringing and the hometown 161 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:31.159 of Stillwell, Kansas. You know, really a nice town. The people 162 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:35.360 are the best. That's the only thing that really stands out to me is 163 00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:39.039 the people. It's any other sub suburbian town, but just the people are 164 00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:43.200 the best. You know. I went to a really good group of schools 165 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:48.360 and just met some really incredible people along the way that have helped turn me 166 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:50.320 in the person I am today. How did you turn into the ballplayer you 167 00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:54.000 are? What were the programs like growing up to get you going? Here's 168 00:14:54.039 --> 00:14:58.120 a lot of a lot of work from my stepdad that it was kind of 169 00:14:58.120 --> 00:15:01.679 just me and him along journey. You know, we would go to mac 170 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:05.559 and sits and hit hours on end after school and use the batting cages. 171 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:11.120 And then I played for Building Champions growing up through high school, and so 172 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:13.120 they kind of taught me the name of the game of you know, how 173 00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:18.159 to create a baseball iq really and play hard and kind of the things that 174 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:20.480 people don't really look at. And so, you know, I'm really grateful 175 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:24.879 for those people and for those facilities, and for my stepdad. Really. 176 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:28.679 Rob. Yeah, first major league game here, What do you remember about 177 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:33.399 it? Yeah? So I played three games in high school here, and 178 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:37.840 then I played against Arkansas and college here, and so I don't know, 179 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:39.879 it's gonna be pretty exciting. It's a big leagues. I know, it's 180 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:43.639 huge. It's like a football field out there in the outfield, so that'll 181 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:48.879 be fun to track down some balls, but just a special environment, the 182 00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:54.240 fountains. It's just really cool. Giant JumboTron. So be cool. You 183 00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:56.559 canna be able to hold it together, you think, Yeah, absolutely. 184 00:15:56.600 --> 00:16:00.600 You know, I don't know the quote of you know you've played in once, 185 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:03.279 you played in them all, but this one will be really special. 186 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:06.080 With the amount of family and friends I have coming here, it'll be really 187 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:10.440 cool. Will Brennan is joining us coming home as you grew up about thirty 188 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:12.960 minutes from here. He went to Kansas State, and Will, you're back 189 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:17.039 at it and you've been playing good baseballs as the team comes in here. 190 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:22.279 I know you had a little hiccup with the minor injury, but as good 191 00:16:22.279 --> 00:16:25.240 a time to come here as any Yeah, absolutely, you know, any 192 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:27.679 time that we can try and come here and get a sweep. You know, 193 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:30.960 I know the roles aren't doing that great right now, so it'll be 194 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:33.600 a big momentum for us moving forward. Any time that we can do that 195 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:37.080 and get some wins in a great city, that's that's what we do. 196 00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:41.919 You had to miss a couple of games because of a tremendous defensive play in 197 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:45.039 and we talked so much about your hitting, how much pride did you take 198 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:48.840 in the catch that you've made last week? Oh, it took a ton 199 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:51.000 of pride. You know, it's a lot of hard work and it's not 200 00:16:51.080 --> 00:16:53.279 as easy as people think it is. So anytime that you know you can 201 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:56.399 make a great play like that, you got to soak it in. But 202 00:16:56.840 --> 00:17:00.559 that's why baseball is beautiful, because the next thing you got to move on, 203 00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:03.920 or even the next play, and so that's Yeah, take a lot 204 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:07.400 of pride in it and work really hard. Any concerns that that you would 205 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:11.519 be able to pick up where you left off after No, I mean just 206 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:15.359 kind of facing Corbyn Burns on Sundays always a great test to see where you're 207 00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:18.680 at. Cy Young Award winner, But um, you know, we just 208 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:25.799 keep rolling a business as usual while we're here in Kansas City. Any recommendations 209 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:30.519 for places to eat from the Will Brennan Rolodex. Yeah, I would say 210 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:33.559 if you want to barbecue, it's just a little sneaky barbecue spot. You 211 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:37.039 go to Slaps. It's over in the West Bottom's a great spot. Um 212 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:44.039 what what sets out apart from the other ones? I don't know. It's 213 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:47.200 just not it's not like chained yet you know like there's not there's a ton 214 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.759 of Jack Sacks. There's a ton of Joe's, you know, and they're 215 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:52.799 great, but there's only one slaps fair enough and there's only one. Will 216 00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:56.920 Brennan, thanks for coming by. Awesome, Thanks, Rosie, appreciate you. 217 00:17:56.440 --> 00:18:00.960 That's Guardians outfielder Will Brennan, who's had a really nice season. Another 218 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:03.839 home run in Friday's game against the Cubs in a losing effort, but his 219 00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:07.519 fifth home run of the season, and he continues to swing a hot back. 220 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:11.200 Stay tuned when we come back, we'll talk hitting with Chris falaka the 221 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:33.599 Guardians hitting coach. That's next on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. Jim 222 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:37.960 Rose and nounced back with you on Guardians Weekly from Wrigley Field in Chicago, 223 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:42.720 where the Guardians are taking on the Cubs this weekend and Cleveland stymied on Friday 224 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:47.920 in the series opener by Justin Steele as they were limited to just one run. 225 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:51.559 But for the most part, the month of June was a real positive 226 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:55.880 month offensively, as the Guardians, who struggled mightily through the first two months 227 00:18:55.880 --> 00:18:59.640 of the season, started to click a little bit, averaging close to five 228 00:18:59.720 --> 00:19:02.680 runs it's a game for the month, and that was good to be in 229 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:07.640 the upper echelon of teams offensively in the American League. The hitting coaches Chris 230 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:11.000 Felaka, we caught up with him after a fourteen run output on Wednesday night 231 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:17.240 in Kansas City and we asked him if there was a specific turning point for 232 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:21.480 the club offensively as they headed into the month of June. Yeah, you 233 00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:23.039 know, we we We've been, you know, trying to stay as consistent 234 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:26.960 as possible with the guys. You know, that Saint Louis series has been 235 00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:30.880 kind of the turning point I think for us, you know, kind of 236 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:33.319 flipping the script. I think the narrative against US has always been, you 237 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:37.279 know, aggressive with fastballs, you know, knowing we make a lot of 238 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:38.920 contact. The slug hasn't always been there, So, you know, I 239 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:42.640 think trying to flip that script and embrace that and you know, continue to 240 00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:45.960 look to be aggressive even though we're not, you know, hitting the ball 241 00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:48.079 out of the ballpark. We can hit the ball hard and you know, 242 00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:51.720 create a little bit more damage and traffic. On the basis you mentioned flipping 243 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:55.119 the script. Is it hard to do that when when you established an identity 244 00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:56.839 to work so well a season ago. Sure, Yeah, you know, 245 00:19:56.920 --> 00:20:00.640 I don't think we get away from you know, what we do well. 246 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:03.240 We we know we make a ton of contact, but you know, you 247 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:06.799 don't want that to be your achilles heel either and end at bats early just 248 00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:10.000 because you can make contacts. So, you know, I think you know, 249 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:11.799 by experience, and the more at bats these guys get, they're gonna 250 00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:15.640 know, you know, when to take a chance, look to impact the 251 00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:18.640 ball, even though they do know how to make contact deeper in account. 252 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:21.640 You know, let's let's use some of that early to to to look to 253 00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:25.680 you know, add a little bit of slug to our lineup that experience factory. 254 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:30.799 How much does that kick in and at what point and how many players 255 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:33.079 here are still in that lineup with really very little experience. Yeah, I 256 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:37.680 think, you know, all of us have to continue just to check ourselves. 257 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:40.960 I think, you know, having the year that that that played out 258 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:44.279 last year and having some guys get some experience. You know, just because 259 00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:45.680 they have a year in the big leagues doesn't make them a veteran yet. 260 00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:51.039 But I think them growing every day, um, you know, is going 261 00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:53.079 to make them them better players and you know, they have to go through 262 00:20:53.079 --> 00:20:56.880 the ebbs and the flows of the season, and you know they're learning, 263 00:20:56.240 --> 00:21:00.200 you know, pitches they can handle, pitches they can't handle, you know, 264 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:03.559 history experience with other other pitchers. So you know, I think as 265 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:07.759 they continue to grow, we're going to keep seeing these guys evolving to better 266 00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:11.319 and better players. But you know, each day we're growing. So it's 267 00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:14.680 not like we have the most veteran lineup that we're running out there every day. 268 00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:17.400 Chris. You look at at how the team has performed of late, 269 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:22.359 about a month of really good production Offensively, Jose Ramirez has been doing it 270 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:26.160 for years and he's starting to do it again here this season. Josh Naylor, 271 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:27.640 though, seems to have made a real nice breakthrough it. And what's 272 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:32.079 he doing that's allowed him to be so effective. He went into this offseason 273 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:34.039 really putting in the work. Um, you know, I think the highlight 274 00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:37.720 was him hitting off lefties, and what we've seen him do this year off 275 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:42.400 lefties has been outstanding. You know, He's always been a high contact guy. 276 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:45.599 You know, he has the power. We saw him hit twenty plus 277 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:48.319 home runs last year, so really just you know, leaning into what he 278 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:52.920 does well you know, looking for times to impact the ball. But him, 279 00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:55.480 you know, driving in close to sixty runs right now before the All 280 00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:59.519 Star breaks. Outstanding and you know, especially with Josh Bell hitting behind him, 281 00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:02.279 Hosey and front of him, and I think that's a pretty powerful three 282 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:04.920 or four or five combination that we have. And Will Brennan in that younger 283 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:08.559 player category, But it seems very steady for him. He saw a glimpse 284 00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:11.240 of it last year. What's he done to take another step forward? This 285 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:15.000 year? He's been He's been great, you know, him him coming in 286 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:18.359 and taking over that position in right field. You know, it's been incredible 287 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:22.240 for us to watch him just you know, evolve into the big league that 288 00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:26.400 he's being in the confidence that that he's growing into. Um, you know, 289 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:30.519 I think there's always work to be done, but some of the things 290 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:32.559 that he's worked on, you know, control on the top of the strike 291 00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:34.720 zone, looking to impact the ball, like we've talked about with with all 292 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:37.839 these guys. You see those power numbers, but he's just he puts up 293 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:41.599 a trust trusting at bat every time. You know, when he walks to 294 00:22:41.640 --> 00:22:42.599 the play, you know you're gonna get a good at bat out of him, 295 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:45.519 and you know, of late, really good things have been happening. 296 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:49.400 So today Zack Granky's on a mound for Kansas City and it's not off in 297 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:53.599 the hitting coach actually face the pitcher who's pitching. You did. How can 298 00:22:53.640 --> 00:22:56.480 that help your hitters today? I don't think they want to hear about how 299 00:22:56.519 --> 00:23:00.519 I faced Zak Grinky. I think he's got more strike out and I have 300 00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:03.759 hits off him, so well, we'll do not what the hitting coach did 301 00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:07.960 against him. We'll keep an eye on that today. Chris, thanks a 302 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:11.279 lot for coming by. Appreciate ros. That's hitting coach. Chris Valleco has 303 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:15.359 done some real good work and he seems to have that good balance of wanting 304 00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:18.720 to make some adjustments and encouraging hitters to try and find those ways to be 305 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:22.200 more effective at the plate, but also being patient. That's the hard part, 306 00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:26.119 but he has a real good feel for when to do both and it 307 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:30.720 has worked out well and his two see our second season now as the hitting 308 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:33.880 coach for the Guardians. Stay tuned when we come back. We'll fill you 309 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:37.359 in on some of the young prospects at Lake County, the single a club 310 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:41.559 for the Guardians with Rob Sortfolio, the director of player Development. That's next. 311 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:47.519 Progressive knows we're all trying to save right now. Hey, at least 312 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:49.680 we're still enjoying baseball on a Saturday night, right, even if it is 313 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:53.640 T ball. Yeah, the tickets to the majors are just so expensive now. 314 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:56.799 And who knows, maybe we're seeing a pro in the making sure twenty 315 00:23:56.880 --> 00:24:03.039 years. How is he safe? The substant the ump is only fourteen? 316 00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:06.640 We don't really do that. Oh my bad. You're doing a great job. 317 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:11.279 Progressive offers you seatings without sacrifice, So save big one you buddle Holm 318 00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:22.640 and Auto for there's a casualty intrance company affiliates and other introvers Welcome back to 319 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:26.920 Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhouse back with you for our final segment from Wrigley Field 320 00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:30.839 in Chicago. Each week we try and catch up with Rob Sortfolio, the 321 00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:34.799 director of player development for the Guardians, and give you an update on one 322 00:24:34.839 --> 00:24:38.119 of the teams in the farm system, and this week we focus in on 323 00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:45.599 Lake County, the high A team for Cleveland, and Rob was explaining the 324 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:49.160 difference in terms of the level that these kids are playing at and when it 325 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:55.559 comes to development and finding out where players stand Rob says that at the single 326 00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:57.519 A level, the high A level, that is a dynamic where you really 327 00:24:57.559 --> 00:25:02.200 start to get a good read on play arison whether they can continue in the 328 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:06.319 system or perhaps it's the end of the line in terms of their careers. 329 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:08.359 Yeah, so yeah, you know, I think for you know, maybe 330 00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:14.000 some of the fans that don't get a chance to see the lengthy rule books 331 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:17.920 that have Major League Baseball sends our way. Over the last couple of years, 332 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:22.480 they've put in a couple of new rules that limit the total number of 333 00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:26.519 players you can have within your organization on the minor league side, so you 334 00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:30.960 think about domestic rosters, it's Triple A all the way down to your rookie 335 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:36.440 ball team, whether that's Arizona for US or Florida for some of the other 336 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:40.640 teams across the league. And essentially, you know, five years ago, 337 00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:45.000 you could have as many players as your organization wanted to, and now they've 338 00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:47.920 kind of leveled the playing field a little bit and put in some new rules 339 00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:52.200 that caps the number of players that you can have from Triple A to rookie 340 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:56.039 ball, which is good in some sense and creates some challenges in others. 341 00:25:56.039 --> 00:26:00.519 And I think you know, as you noted Rosie, the the high A 342 00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:06.039 level in particular has become a little bit of a you know, upper level 343 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:08.960 triple A, double A. Guys that are a little bit older where Pia 344 00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:15.119 is. You know, a lot of young prospects that are running into good 345 00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:18.119 players for the first time in their career, and guys are the average age 346 00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:22.319 of some of these levels has gotten younger and younger, So you have players 347 00:26:22.359 --> 00:26:27.079 with less experience that are facing you know, tough competition for really the first 348 00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:32.160 time in their career. And you know, especially having the makeup of our 349 00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:36.119 team currently is a lot of former high schoolers on especially on the position player 350 00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:38.799 side, or you know, former international picks, and so these guys are 351 00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:42.359 oftentimes the best player in their whole state or you know, one of the 352 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:47.200 best players in the country they're coming from, and they're being challenge right now 353 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:52.480 and maybe different than the major league level, where adversity can result in losses. 354 00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:56.599 You know, a lot of good comes out of facing adversity and better 355 00:26:56.680 --> 00:27:02.359 competition in the minor leagues. And so for this level in particular, you 356 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:06.440 know, we've got some guys that have gotten off to slower starts than maybe 357 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:08.599 they were hoping too, but you know, we're really trying to make this 358 00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:14.920 a learning opportunity and find ways for these guys to make adjustments. So just 359 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:18.039 you know, kind of speaking to the global dynamics of what high a baseball 360 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:22.079 has become. I think those are some of the things that you know, 361 00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:25.880 we're seeing across all of minor league baseball, but then specific to our team 362 00:27:25.880 --> 00:27:29.279 in particular in Lake County. Well, let's start right there then with the 363 00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:33.000 position player wise, And I know a young man that the organization's very high 364 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:37.319 on is Jake Fox, and he's coming off a good year a season ago, 365 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:41.759 but it looks like it's been a real challenging year this year. And 366 00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:44.559 what are you seeing from him as he goes through that, maybe for the 367 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:47.759 first time in his pro career. Yeah, you know, Jake comes from 368 00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:52.279 a baseball family. His dad played, so he knows a little bit and 369 00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:56.440 expects some of these challenges to come, but when you experience for the first 370 00:27:56.440 --> 00:28:00.200 time, it is humbling. And I think one of the things that you 371 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:04.759 know, we're really proud about Jake and how he's just handled this from the 372 00:28:04.839 --> 00:28:08.960 mental side of especially when you struggle early on out of the gates like he 373 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:14.480 did offensively. That can spiral quick, and we've seen him rebound a little 374 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:17.880 bit over the last month or so, which has been super encouraging. His 375 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:22.079 work has been fantastic with Jordan Beckers or hitting coach there, and there's just 376 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:26.599 the rest of the hitting group that supported him through trying to make some of 377 00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:30.640 those adjustments. We talked about being a young kid, still twenty years old, 378 00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:33.599 one of the youngest kids in the whole league. Despite getting off to 379 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:37.240 that slow start, he didn't shy away from that. He was real with 380 00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:41.039 some of the results and was eager to try and find ways to improve. 381 00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:45.319 And you know, I think we're starting to see some of that show through 382 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:48.920 here in the last month. And a guy that we're still really excited about 383 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:53.160 with how he can impact the baseball. He's learned how to play outfield, 384 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:57.359 playing a lot of center field for us last year and then almost exclusively this 385 00:28:57.440 --> 00:29:03.079 year, and has really done a nice on the defensive side making that transition. 386 00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:07.039 So a young kid that you know, we're excited to have another three 387 00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:08.759 hundred plate appearance is coming his way, and you know we're going to keep 388 00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:12.240 getting our hands dirty. Nate Ferman is someone who was putting up some real 389 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:15.640 good numbers at Lynchburg and now he's made the jump up to the high A 390 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:18.799 level, and what are some of the things that he's seeing that he's trying 391 00:29:18.839 --> 00:29:22.519 to work on as he moves up the ladder. Yeah, you know, 392 00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:30.119 I think Nate candidly really dominated the low A level and has, like we 393 00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:33.440 talked about, face the tougher challenge in HIA so far, which is which 394 00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:37.640 is great. Again, another guy that really does some things well in the 395 00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:41.400 batter's box when it comes to limiting chase, putting the bat on the ball, 396 00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:45.640 and we're trying to emphasize some of hitting balls at the right angles and 397 00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:48.480 impacting the baseball a little bit more frequently than you know, what he's been 398 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:53.000 accustomed to as a college player, where you have different philosophies, and again, 399 00:29:53.119 --> 00:29:57.079 you know, similar to Foxy firm is a tremendous worker, comes to 400 00:29:57.119 --> 00:30:00.559 the ballpark every day with a purpose plan of what he's trying to get better 401 00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:04.799 at, is really eager for coaching and feedback. And you know, again 402 00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:08.039 a kid in his first year in pro ball that we're excited to have three 403 00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:11.720 or more plate appearances coming his way through the second half, which will be 404 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:18.559 which will be fantastic. Christian Cairo is one who's putting up some solid numbers. 405 00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:22.079 Looks like I know he's had to battle at times to get that good, 406 00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:23.880 steady playing time. And what are you seeing from him as the season 407 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:27.119 moves alot? Yeah, just that. So you know, Christian's a guy 408 00:30:27.200 --> 00:30:30.640 that got a taste of this level last year. He had a little bit 409 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:36.759 of an injury bug which limited some of his plate appearances in twenty twenty two, 410 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:38.839 but he has not let that slow him down this year. And is 411 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:44.079 you know, really posting some impressive numbers across the board that comes to walk, 412 00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:48.079 strikeouts and hitting for some power this year as well. So, you 413 00:30:48.119 --> 00:30:49.599 know, being one of the older guys on that team, even though he's 414 00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:53.640 only twenty two years old, it's been an impressive start of the year for 415 00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:56.720 him on both sides of the ball. He's played third, he's jumped in 416 00:30:56.720 --> 00:31:00.279 at shortstop, and we needed them to played a lot of second base. 417 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:06.160 So a guy that continues to earn opportunities in the batter's box and all over 418 00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:10.519 the field on defense. And we talked about Joe Lampy before because we saw 419 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:14.359 him a little bit at Major League spring training, filling in at the back 420 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:17.759 end of games. And I know he's had a real good month with a 421 00:31:17.799 --> 00:31:22.000 Player of the Month award and they the Midwest League. But when you look 422 00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:25.759 at what he's going through the ebbs and flows of that long full season, 423 00:31:26.119 --> 00:31:29.880 what are you seeing there on how he's handling that just that it's you know, 424 00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:33.240 it's it's not too dissimilar from we talked about with Fermana. You know, 425 00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:37.160 this is a guy that we challenge going straight to high A. He 426 00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:42.079 comes obviously from a good college background, being an ASU, so playing in 427 00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:45.880 the Pac twelve, you know, you get good competition. And we thought 428 00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:48.599 that Joe was up to the challenge, and he came out guns of blazing. 429 00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:52.480 And and again, like we talked about all these guys the league, 430 00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:56.960 you adjust the league, the league adjust back and facing some better competition for 431 00:31:57.119 --> 00:32:00.960 the first time as a pro, he's scuffle a little bit. I think 432 00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:04.000 Joe be the first to tell you that. And so we're trying to find 433 00:32:04.039 --> 00:32:08.799 ways to continue to have the end in mind of trying to make him an 434 00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:14.279 impact major leaguer. And you know, oftentimes some adversity in the minor leagues 435 00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:19.759 can be helpful for us, and so figuring out what's our biggest north star 436 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:23.599 with Joe on the offensive side and even physically some of the things and how 437 00:32:23.640 --> 00:32:29.039 those two domains are connected to help support him and make this a great learning 438 00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:32.759 experience that he'll be better for you in the future. Rob Serfolio is joining 439 00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:37.720 us. He's the director of player development for the Cleveland Guardians. We're talking 440 00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:42.240 minor leagues and in this case High A Lake County and we'll switch to the 441 00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:45.759 pitching side of things and in their bullpen. I know, a young arm 442 00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:49.920 you're really impressed with so far is Tyler Thornton. And what's he's showing as 443 00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:53.319 the season moves along. Yeah, Tyler's had a really great year and you 444 00:32:53.319 --> 00:32:58.359 know, maybe a guy that's a little bit of a sleeper in some sense. 445 00:32:58.400 --> 00:33:00.759 You look at what he did last year year and it was also equally 446 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:06.680 impressive and can really miss bats. Just learning how to be you know, 447 00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:13.200 becoming a professional reliever is is a lot of work when it comes to maintaining 448 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:16.759 your body and being physically able to go out there and pitch two three times 449 00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:20.799 a week, and you know, those are some of the challenges that that 450 00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:24.279 Tyler's really taken on this year in twenty twenty three, and so far he's 451 00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:29.759 met that and continued to perform at a high level, which which has been 452 00:33:29.799 --> 00:33:34.559 really encouraging. So you know, he's got some unique characteristics to his fastball 453 00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:38.240 that that makes it really difficult to square up and has continued to develop his 454 00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:44.079 secondary as well, and I think that's that's really led to some of the 455 00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:47.400 you know, really impressive strikeout numbers that this guy's put together so far. 456 00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:51.680 And we're not a finished product, you know, there's still some things when 457 00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:57.000 it comes to attacking the zone and and secondary refinement that we want to that 458 00:33:57.119 --> 00:34:00.119 we want to have in mind. But it's pretty impressive with Tyler's done so 459 00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:02.680 far to start the year and in the rotation. I know you're working through 460 00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:07.400 some things to keep him going from a health standpoint, But what have you 461 00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:12.000 seen from Ryan Webb so far as as maybe a more experienced pitcher at that 462 00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:15.360 level. Yeah, So you know, Webb comes to us from University of 463 00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:17.960 Georgia, a guy that had Tommy John when we drafted him. So you 464 00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:21.599 know, even though he's a little bit older and a college guy, his 465 00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:24.960 just the reps as a pro under his belt are a little bit lighter, 466 00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:30.400 and so it's been great to get him back into a rotation healthy to start 467 00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:32.599 the year. You know, he's battling a little bit of a you know, 468 00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:36.960 a minor oblique injury right now, but we expect him to be back 469 00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:42.599 and we're really encouraged with some of the steps he's made in the progress after 470 00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:45.559 you know, like some of the hitters not getting off to a great start 471 00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:47.280 the first month. His second month, he's really started to pick it up 472 00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:52.920 and show some of the the stuff characteristics that we saw in the draft that 473 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:54.960 was really enticing, and you know, we're excited to get him back out 474 00:34:54.960 --> 00:35:00.480 there and healthy soon. And circling back to where we started the conversation a 475 00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:06.719 little while back in regards to the numbers situation at the minor league level with 476 00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:12.920 some new rule changes from Major League Baseball because of the situation with Cleveland at 477 00:35:12.920 --> 00:35:16.480 the major league level having to fill three spots in the rotation with pitching, 478 00:35:17.800 --> 00:35:22.440 how has that filtered down to the minor league level And are there times where 479 00:35:22.679 --> 00:35:27.280 you're just trying to find some healthy arms to get through and really keep it 480 00:35:27.360 --> 00:35:31.159 going as a positive season for all involved. Yeah, there's certainly some of 481 00:35:31.199 --> 00:35:36.079 that, and you know, I think just having less players makes by default 482 00:35:36.199 --> 00:35:39.599 forces us to challenge more guys than maybe we would have historically. But you 483 00:35:39.639 --> 00:35:45.199 know, anytime ROSA you can put guys like gav And and Buyby and La 484 00:35:45.400 --> 00:35:51.159 up in the big leagues is always a really exciting year for us. And 485 00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:52.960 on the player development side, I mean, you know, that's that's the 486 00:35:53.079 --> 00:35:57.920 ultimate goal, is to help us win games in Cleveland and do that with 487 00:35:58.039 --> 00:36:01.639 guys that we drafted and worked with with day one. And you know, 488 00:36:01.679 --> 00:36:07.400 I think that's been a huge motivator for all of our staff on the minor 489 00:36:07.440 --> 00:36:10.400 league side. Is um you know, just validating in some sense of the 490 00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:15.199 work that we're doing with these guys and obviously they're not a finished product and 491 00:36:15.239 --> 00:36:19.239 those guys are still young pitchers that are developing. You could say the same 492 00:36:19.320 --> 00:36:22.880 even about some of the rookies we talked about last year with Will Brennan and 493 00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:25.880 Kuwanny and all those guys that are you know, just getting experience under their 494 00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:30.000 belt. But well, that does you know, require us to maybe challenge 495 00:36:30.039 --> 00:36:36.920 more players than we historically would have. It's it's really exciting for for our 496 00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:39.360 entire player development group, and I think just speaks volumes to the type of 497 00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:44.360 guys that we've acquired in the draft and and just to the work their coaches 498 00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:47.400 have done to help support these guys on achieving their goal of being a major 499 00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:52.239 leaguer. Oh, Rob, I know a lot on your playton The draft 500 00:36:52.360 --> 00:36:54.760 is coming up, so they'll be even more fun things to do from the 501 00:36:54.800 --> 00:36:59.480 development standpoint. But as always, we appreciate the time and we'll catch up 502 00:36:59.480 --> 00:37:01.639 with you soon. Likewise, Rosie, thanks for having me and looking forward 503 00:37:01.639 --> 00:37:06.360 to chatting soon. That's Rob Sortfolio, the director of player Development for the 504 00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:09.800 Guardians. Our weekly farm Report is part of Guardians Weekly. That's going to 505 00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:14.039 do it for this week's show. Thanks so much to Brian Matzai as always 506 00:37:14.039 --> 00:37:17.400 for putting together our show each week back at Command Center until next week when 507 00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:22.320 we join you from back home at Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland. This is 508 00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:27.800 Jim Rosenhouse reminding you that you've been listening to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Clinic 509 00:37:28.039 --> 00:37:44.840 Guardians Radio Network. Guardians Weekly has been brought to you by Progressive, helping 510 00:37:44.920 --> 00:37:46.800 Guardians fans save hundreds on car insurance.