Daniel Espino made his highly-anticipated Arizona Fall League debut this week, throwing an inning of scoreless ball for the Surprise Saguaros.
The 2019 first-round pick for the Guardians was carving up batters with some of the most electric stuff in the minors early in his professional career, but multiple surgeries on his knee and shoulder sidelined Espino for all of 2023 and 2024, then most of 2025.
Espino recently sat down with SportsCasting to talk about his road to recovery, where his stuff is now, his thoughts on playing in the Fall League and more.
Q: You’re probably one of the happiest guys here to get back out there and throw, huh?
Daniel Espino: “Oh, yeah. It’s been a great year for me. I’ve learned a lot, and I’m feeling like a baseball player again. That’s the most important thing. I’m excited to get the ball rolling and compete in this next phase of baseball.”
Q: What’s it like to go through the injury journey you went through, and to finally get back out there?
DE: “It’s not ideal. Nobody likes to go to rehab, especially a lengthy one, but I’m seeing the good side of it. I’m keeping that perspective. There is a lot more than baseball, and I got to experience that.”
Q: You were at 103 mph previously and you are now reaching 99 mph, which seems pretty good after just coming back. Do you know where your velocity sits, and do you wonder if it will get back to where you were?
DE: “I feel like it came back pretty quickly. I was shocked. Especially after my first IBP. But I think there are other things that are more important than just the velo. I’m able to get to the high-90s and all that, but for me it’s more special in how I can attack the zone, how my breaking stuff is working. My changeup, curveball, slider. And most important, how my health is. The days after I pitch, I feel really good, and I think that’s more important than just seeing how hard I can throw.”
Daniel Espino made his AFL debut last night.
It was quite fun.
Here's every pitch from the @GuardsInsider RHP: pic.twitter.com/JviTVTFhYy
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) October 8, 2025
Q: Can you see any effects from the layoff or surgeries with your breaking stuff? Obviously your body went through a lot.
DE: “Thanks to God, not really. My arsenal has been the same. Obviously there are some tweaks, but that’s normal. And that stuff is important, yes, but it’s also about what I bring to the mound, the confidence. If I have that, everything is going to work out. Worrying about what I can do on the mound mechanics-wise, how repetitive I can make my mechanics. Those are going to affect how everything is going to play at home plate.”
Q: What’s it like getting back to this point? Were there some dark days being off the mound for so long?
DE: “Yeah, of course. You’re not doing what you love to do. It’s been a road. I’m thankful for my family, the organization, the medical staff. Since the beginning, they never doubted. I think we had the best approach, which was to fix it day-by-day and not get too ahead of ourselves. That perspective has helped me get to the point I am. I could name a bunch of stuff that wasn’t easy, but it’s keeping everything in perspective, being positive and trusting that I have a destiny. When you have that perspective and get reminded of that, it’s hard not to have a good day.”
Q: How are they going to structure it for you pitching-wise in the Fall League?
DE: “The plan for me is to have the normal 5-day rotation, to be able to get on the mound and get ready for the next game. For me, that’s important. I’m confident I can get a lot from this and then be ready for the 2026 season and beyond.”
