It was a type of stats that catches your eye instantly.
Cleveland Guardians right-handed pitcher discovered himself in a historic parallel to Danny Salazar. And for followers of Cleveland baseball, there needed to be a tinge of ache with that one.
First, we’ll break down the feat, after which we’ll dig into it additional.
Daniel Espino’s Tiny Historical past
Espino obtained the beginning for the Guardians on Friday evening in opposition to the Athletics. He wasn’t going to be going a protracted distance, however as a substitute serving because the opener.
It wasn’t an excellent opening, although.
Espino went 1.0 innings, permitting only one hit however strolling three and giving up a three-run house run to Zack Gelof for a 3-0 A’s lead.
The righty did strike out one.
It was a beginning pitcher stat line that had solely been thrown 3 times ever — not often is a man going to go that quick until he’s damage.
The final time? Danny Salazar in 2016:
No Pitchergami.
Daniel Espino | ATH @ CLE
1.0 IP | 1 H | 3 ER | 3 BB | 1 Okay
This stat line has been thrown 3 occasions earlier than. The final time this was thrown was on 2016-08-18 by Danny Salazar.
— Pitchergami (@pitchergami) September 19, 2026
A Painful Comparability
Cleveland baseball followers keep in mind Salazar.
He arrived within the majors loaded with hype, and he had a number of the greatest stuff that had ever stepped onto the mound in a then-Indians jersey.
For a time, Salazar was dominant, and it appeared just like the sky was the restrict.
After which his proper arm began getting damage, and saved getting damage. His stuff declined. He pitched much less and fewer. He ultimately light out, not going out like a capturing star however as a substitute like a hearth that ran totally out of kindling.
Espino, with the identical first title, as soon as had a case for having the very best stuff in all the Guardians’ system even when he was within the low minors.
However then Espino, even sooner than Salazar, began getting damage.
For a time, it didn’t even seem like Espino would keep on the mound lengthy sufficient to ascend to the main leagues in any capability.
It’s inspirational in some sense that Espino is in MLB, but it surely’s scary to see the loopy comparability to Salazar.
Espino in all probability received’t ever have the prospect to be a full-time starter within the majors. It’s an excessive amount of of a threat primarily based on his damage historical past. So he’ll by no means fairly be Salazar, in any capability.
However Danny and Daniel generated tons of hype within the Cleveland group a couple of decade aside, and neither of them appear more likely to attain their absolutely destined potential. As an alternative, they’ll each be large “What if?” gamers for what their careers didn’t change into.
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