Naquin Joins Guardians, Aims for Pitching Comeback

The Cleveland Guardians have signed former outfielder Tyler Naquin to a minor league contract as he attempts a comeback as a right-handed pitcher. Naquin, who played eight seasons in the majors and was a finalist for the AL Rookie of the Year in 2016, will report to spring training to begin his transition. The 33-year-old has never pitched professionally and faces a challenging learning curve, especially at his age. While Naquin is remembered for his strong outfield arm, his last MLB appearance was in 2023 with the Chicago White Sox, after which he did not play in 2024. The Guardians previously facilitated a similar transition with Anthony Gose, who successfully moved from the outfield to pitching. As Naquin embarks on this new chapter, any significant contributions as a pitcher will be considered a bonus for the team.