CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians have never been afraid to churn their 40-man roster in anticipation of the Rule 5 Draft at the winter meetings in December — and Tuesday was no exception.
They started the day with the roster at 39 players, but selected three pitchers and one outfielder from Class AAA Columbus. Right-handers Franco Aleman and Nic Enright, left-hander Doug Nikhazy and outfielder Petey Halpin were promoted.
To make room for the new arrivals, right-handers Connor Gillispie and Peter Strzelecki and outfielder George Valera were designed for assignment.
Big league teams had until 6 p.m. Tuesday to set their 40-man rosters. Players on the 40-man roster are not eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. Eligible players left off the 40-man can be drafted by another team in the Rule 5 Draft.
Here’s a quick look at the four new additions:
- RHP Franco Aleman: He was a 10th round pick in 2021 and a spring trainning invitee to big league camp last spring. He appeared in only 24 games this year for Columbus because of a right lat strain. He went 1-2 with two saves and a 1.99 ERA, striking out 34 and walking 10 in 22 2/3 innings.
- RHP Nic Enright: He was a 20th round pick by Cleveland in 2019. The Guardians lost him in the Rule 5 Draft to Miami in 2022, but he was returned to Cleveland after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. This year at Columbus, Enright went 2-1 with a 1.06 ERA in 16 games with three saves. He struck out 31, walked five and allowed nine hits in 17 innings. He was in big league camp last spring with the G’s.
- LHP Doug Nikhazy: He was a second round pick by Cleveland in 2021. He was a combined 7-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 25 games, including 24 starts, at Columbus and Class AA Akron. He struck out 124 and walked 53 in 123 2/3 innings. After being promoted from to Columbus, he wetn 7-3 with a 2.87 ERA in 14 games, including 13 starts. He struck out 75 and walked 34 in 75 1/3 innings.
- OF Petey Halpin: He was Cleveland’s third round pick in 2020. Halpin spent this season at Akron, hitting .233 (83 for 356) with 15 doubles, 12 homers, and 45 RBI in 90 games. His season ended on Aug. 22 because of an injury to his left wrist that required surgery at the end of the year. Haplin was in big-league camp with the G’s last spring.
Gillispie made his big league debut this season, appearing in two games for the Guardians. He spent the rest of the season going 5-7 with a 4.05 ERA in 27 games, including 15 starts at Columbus.
Strzelecki bounced between Columbus and Cleveland as well. After the Guardians purchased his contract from Arizona in March, Strzelecki made 10 appearances for the Guardians, going 0-2 with a 2.31 ERA.
Valera for several seasons was considered one of Cleveland’s top position player prospects. But he was hounded by injuries.
A hamstring injury set him back this spring. When he finally recovered, he ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee in a collision with the outfield fence while playing for Columbus. The injury required surgery.