After enduring an injury to his right elbow during a weighted ball drill, Gavin Williams has worked diligently to rehabilitate and return to the field. The 6-6 right-hander, Cleveland’s top pick in 2021, made his first appearance in a game for the Cleveland Guardians’ Arizona Complex team in Goodyear, Arizona. Williams threw 50 pitches in his three-inning outing, showcasing all his pitches and indicating his readiness for a minor league start later this week.
Despite his frustration with the injury, Williams maintained a positive attitude, emphasizing that setbacks are a part of the game. He has not altered his weighted ball drills, attributing his injury to an isolated incident. Manager Stephen Vogt provided an update on James Karinchak, who is making progress in his recovery from a right shoulder injury at the team’s training facility in Goodyear. Vogt noted that Karinchak has advanced to throwing at 250 feet in his throwing program and has been feeling well.
Vogt also addressed the Guardians’ ongoing issue with starters’ longevity, with Logan Allen being the last to pitch six or more innings on April 3. While acknowledging that the starters are throwing well, Vogt admitted that length has been an issue, but it is trending in the right direction. He highlighted Tanner Bibee’s near-miss against Oakland, falling just one pitch short of returning for the seventh inning in a 6-2 victory.
Through 16 games, the rotation holds a 10-4 record with a 3.79 ERA, but ranks 13th in the AL with only 109 1/3 innings pitched, compared to Kansas City’s starters who lead the AL with 131 2/3 innings.
