Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 80 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50 

The Panamanian-born Espino had a mid-80s fastball when he moved to Georgia for his sophomore year of high school and developed into one of the most electric arms in the 2019 prep class. After he signed for $2.5 million as the 24th overall pick, he kept improving to the point where he might have had the best overall stuff in the Minors -- but he has pitched just 18 1/3 innings in the last two years. Sidelined in May 2022 with knee tendinitis, he developed shoulder soreness while rehabbing and missed all of 2023 following May surgery to repair a muscle strain and capsule tear. He'll miss the entire 2024 season after having a second shoulder operation this March to repair damage to his shoulder capsule and rotator cuff.

A healthy Espino can be unhittable with a top-of-the-scale fastball and plus-plus slider. In 2022, he was sitting at 95-98 mph and reaching 103 with a four-seam fastball that featured plenty of arm-side run, and he showed the aptitude to blow it by hitters at the letters with carry or leverage it down in the zone. He also has good feel for his two-plane slider, spinning it in the mid-80s with more depth or dialing it up to 93 mph with more horizontal movement.

Espino's low-80s downer curveball and mid-80s sinking changeup can be solid pitches when they're working. His athleticism allows him to generate overwhelming stuff with little effort and also has enabled him to make adjustments to improve his control and command. If he can stay on the mound, he'll be a frontline starter, but his health remains a huge question mark.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 80 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55 

Born in Panama, Espino arrived with a mid-80s fastball when he moved to Georgia for his sophomore year of high school and developed into one of the best pitchers of the 2019 prep class. Signed for $2.5 million as the 24th overall pick, he has the most electric stuff among pro pitching prospects four years later. Poised to make his big league debut in 2022, he fanned 35 in 18 1/3 innings over four Double-A starts before getting sidelined by knee tendinitis, then got shut down with shoulder soreness. After his shoulder continued to bother him this winter, he was diagnosed with a muscle strain and a capsule tear that led to surgery in May and he isn't expected to return to game action until mid-2024.

When healthy, Espino can destroy hitters with his top-of-the-scale fastball and plus-plus slider. He operates at 95-98 mph and tops out at 103 with a four-seamer with plenty of arm-side run, and he can use it up in the zone with carry or leverage it lower in the zone with downhill plane. He has good feel for his two-plane slider, showing the ability to work in the mid-80s with increased depth or reaching 93 mph with more horizontal action. 

Espino also owns a downer curveball in the low 80s and a sinking changeup in the mid-80s, both of which can be solid pitches when they're on. He came with reliever risk when he turned pro, but he had erased any doubts that he can be a frontline starter before he got hurt. His athleticism helps him generate premium stuff without much effort and also has enabled him to make adjustments to improve his control and command as he has risen through the Minors. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 65 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55

The Panamanian-born Espino had a mid-80s fastball when he moved to Georgia for his sophomore year of high school and developed the best heater in the 2019 prep class, topping out in triple digits. Signed for $2.5 million as the 24th overall pick, he reached short-season ball in his pro debut, the first high schooler in Cleveland's system to do so since Francisco Lindor in 2011. He made a spectacular full-season debut in 2021, striking out 152 in 91 2/3 innings between Low-A and High-A with double-digit whiffs in six of his last eight starts. 

Espino has one of the most electric arms in the Minors and easily overpowers hitters with his fastball and slider. He sits in the mid-90s and peaks at 101 mph with his heater, generating running action on his four-seamer. He shows feel for manipulating his slider, working in the mid-80s with more depth and in the upper 80s with more horizontal break, and missing a ton of bats with both versions. 

Espino also has a solid low-80s curveball and a sinking mid-80s changeup with similar promise, though the latter offering can get too firm at times. His athleticism helps him generate premium velocity without excessive effort, and he has made adjustments to shorten his arm action since turning pro. While he still battles the strike zone at times and comes with some reliever risk, he lowered his walk rate to 2.9 per nine innings in 10 High-A starts and has plenty of time to further improve his control in order to become a frontline starter. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55

Born in Panama, Espino went from throwing in the mid-80s when he moved to Georgia for his sophomore year of high school in 2016 to becoming the most electric arm in the 2019 prep class. He regularly reached the upper 90s on the showcase circuit and earned a $2.5 million bonus as the 24th overall pick. He struck out 34 in 23 2/3 innings while becoming the first high schooler the Indians promoted to short-season ball in his debut summer since Francisco Lindor in 2011, but was limited to developing at Cleveland's alternate site in 2020. 

Espino works at 94-97 mph and can touch triple digits with his fastball, imparting running life on his four-seamer and heavy sink on his two-seamer. He backs up his heat with a pair of bat-missing breaking balls, with his low-80s slider sharper and grading better than his high-70s curveball. His changeup is more of a work in progress that gets too firm at times but also features some promising sink. 

Espino has a long arm action that leads to inconsistencies with his control and command, though his outstanding athleticism helps him find the strike zone. While he has more reliever risk than a typical first-round choice, he also has better stuff than most and definitely has closer upside if he winds up in the bullpen. The Indians envision him becoming a frontline starter and he could advance more quickly than initially expected. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50 

Born in Panama, Espino had a mid-80s fastball when he moved to Georgia for his sophomore year of high school in 2016. Two years later, he regularly reached the upper 90s on the showcase circuit and broke Hunter Greene's Under Armour All-America Game record with a 99-mph heater. The hardest thrower in the 2019 prep class, he went 24th overall in the Draft and signed for $2.5 million.

Espino usually ranges from 94-97 mph and can reach triple digits with his fastball, with running life on his four-seamer and heavy sink on his two-seamer. He dissuades hitters from trying to sit on his overpowering heater with a pair of power breaking pitches, with his low-80s slider sharper than his upper-70s curveball. He's in the early stages of developing his changeup, which can get too firm but shows some promising sink.

Espino's control and command can waver, in part because he has a long arm action. He comes with more reliever risk than most high school first-rounders, but he also comes with better stuff than most. The Indians envision him as a starter who could one day front their rotation.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

Awards

EAS Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
04/24/2022

MID Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
09/19/2021

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	10/20/2024	Cleveland Guardians activated RHP Daniel Espino.
	10/01/2024	Cleveland Guardians recalled RHP Daniel Espino from Columbus Clippers.
	03/23/2024	Columbus Clippers placed RHP Daniel Espino on the full-season injured list.
	03/08/2024	Cleveland Guardians optioned RHP Daniel Espino to Columbus Clippers.
	11/14/2023	Cleveland Guardians selected the contract of RHP Daniel Espino from Akron RubberDucks.
	11/14/2023	Cleveland Guardians activated RHP Daniel Espino.
	11/06/2023	Akron RubberDucks activated RHP Daniel Espino from the 60-day injured list.
	03/31/2023	Akron RubberDucks placed RHP Daniel Espino on the 60-day injured list.
	09/30/2022	Akron RubberDucks activated RHP Daniel Espino from the 7-day injured list.
	05/03/2022	Akron RubberDucks placed RHP Daniel Espino on the 7-day injured list.
	05/03/2022	Akron RubberDucks placed RHP Daniel Espino on the 7-day injured list.
	04/04/2022	RHP Daniel Espino and assigned to Akron RubberDucks from Lake County Captains.
	04/04/2022	RHP Daniel Espino assigned to Akron RubberDucks from Lake County Captains.
	07/13/2021	RHP Daniel Espino assigned to Lake County Captains from Lynchburg Hillcats.
	04/29/2021	RHP Daniel Espino assigned to Lynchburg Hillcats from Indians Organization.
	02/12/2021	RHP Daniel Espino assigned to Indians Organization.
	02/12/2021	RHP Daniel Espino assigned to Indians Organization.
	09/29/2020	RHP Daniel Espino assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers from Indians Alternate Training Site.
	09/29/2020	RHP Daniel Espino assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers.
	07/17/2020	RHP Daniel Espino assigned to Indians Alternate Training Site from Mahoning Valley Scrappers.
	06/28/2020	Cleveland Indians invited non-roster RHP Daniel Espino to spring training.
	08/14/2019	RHP Daniel Espino assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers from AZL Indians Red.
	06/17/2019	RHP Daniel Espino assigned to AZL Indians Red.
	06/14/2019	Cleveland Indians signed RHP Daniel Espino.
	08/09/2018	RHP Daniel Espino assigned to PG East.
	07/20/2018	RHP Daniel Espino assigned to UA National.