Guardians could call up top LHP prospect for debut during Diamondbacks series

Guardians could call up top LHP prospect for debut during Diamondbacks series image

The Cleveland Guardians are eyeing a potential call-up for their rotation as they navigate what’s been a rollercoaster season. After a brutal ten-game losing streak nearly derailed their playoff hopes, Cleveland bounced back with a strong month that put them back in postseason contention.

Now, with the season winding down and a rotation spot open for Wednesday’s game against Arizona, the Guardians are considering giving top left-handed prospect Parker Messick his first MLB opportunity.

Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports that Messick, Cleveland’s second-round pick out of Florida State in 2022, has emerged as a top option to fill the rotation void.

The timing works in the Guardians’ favor.

“If the Guardians, say, tab Messick to start in Arizona this week, there’s room to add him to the 40-man roster, since the club recently outrighted Trevor Stephan to clear a spot.”

That’s not a coincidence. Meisel notes this is a situation the Guardians “intentionally created,” giving them flexibility to promote prospects without making complicated roster moves.

Messick, 24 years old and ranked as Cleveland’s 12th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline, has put together solid numbers in his first Triple-A season. Across 20 starts, he’s posted a 3.47 ERA with 119 strikeouts and 42 walks in 98.2 innings, good for a 1.22 WHIP.

While he’s had some rough outings mixed in, the overall body of work shows a pitcher who’s handled the jump to Triple-A well. For a Guardians rotation that’s dealt with injuries and inconsistency this year, Messick represents both immediate help and a chance to evaluate their top left-handed pitching prospect.

The Guardians still have an outside shot at the postseason if they can string together another strong stretch, though last weekend’s sweep by Atlanta didn’t help their cause. Whether they’re playing for October or evaluating for 2026, getting a look at Messick makes sense.

All signs point to Wednesday’s game against the Diamondbacks as a potential debut opportunity for the young lefty.

Luke Bennett avatar
Luke Bennett
2 months ago