The calendar has finally flipped to February, meaning spring training begins this month! Pitchers and catchers will officially report to Goodyear, Arizona, in two weeks, with the rest of the team arriving shortly after.
The Cleveland Guardians announced their non-roster invitees to Major League Spring Training Camp late last week, and out of the group, here are three players to keep an eye on once camp opens.
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Out of everyone joining the Guardians, who are on the 40-man roster now, the player who might get the most attention this spring will be Travis Bazzana.
Cleveland’s top prospect could make his MLB debut during the early part of the 2026 season and showed a lot of growth throughout an injury-filled 2025 campaign.
This spring could be Bazzana’s first opportunity to face true big-league pitching, and his at-bats against them could give the Guardians a good indication of how much more time, if any, he needs at Triple-A before coming up to the big-league roster.
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Trevor Stephan is obviously a familiar name and player to the Guardians and their fans, but he hasn’t pitched in a major-league game since 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Stephan made his way back to the mound in 2025, but didn’t make it past Triple-A after logging a 9.51 ERA across three levels. The right-hander had trouble striking people out, and his velocity never returned to its pre-surgery level.
Stephen Vogt said earlier this offseason that he’s excited to watch Stephan pitch, now that he’s healthy. The Guardians have been desperately searching for more bullpen depth this offseason.
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If Stephan can show during spring training that he can be an effective pitcher, or at least an innings eater, again, there’s a chance he could make it back on the major league roster at some point in 2026.
Sep 5, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Trevor Stephan (37) reacts after giving up a three run triple to Minnesota Twins first baseman Donovan Solano (not pictured) during the eighth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Coming into the offseason, the Guardians needed outfield depth and another right-handed bat. Their answer to those problems was signing Stuart Fairchild to a minor league deal with a non-roster invite to spring training.
There’s no guarantee that Fairchild ever makes the big-league roster in 2026, but considering that Cleveland will have a young outfield with injury-prone players at each of the positions, the chances of him donning a Guardians cap next season certainly aren’t zero.
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Heading into training camp, it’ll be interesting to see how Fairchild performs at the plate. He’s an experienced veteran who can play all outfield positions.
If the Guardians have a spot open in the outfield due to injuries or lack of performance, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Fairchild make the Opening Day roster.
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