Cleveland Guardians Prospect Report: 3/29/26

Nolan Jones (LF): 2-4, R, HR, 5 RBIs, BB – The three-run homerun off the bat of Jones in the top of the ninth helped to complete the comeback for the Clippers in the short series finale in Iowa. He was able to turn on a full count cutter and deposited the baseball 410 feet, well over the right field fence. It is his second homerun of the year already after going yard on Saturday as well. Jones also scored two via a bases loaded single in the eighth – both hits were 106 mph off the bat. Another key aspect of his day was no strikeouts in five plate appearances.

Juan Brito (1B): 1-3, R, 2B, RBI, 2 BBs, DP – Brito reached base on three separate occasions on Sunday with a double and a pair of walks. His two-base hit in the top of the third scored the team’s first run of the contest and it came with two outs. Brito had six hits in the three-game set, four of them for doubles.

Milan Tolentino (SS): 1-4, R, HR, RBI, DP – A solo homerun was the catalyst for the four-run top of the ninth with their backs against the wall. He saw a hanging curveball and did the damage to get the Clippers back to within one run and his teammates picked him up behind him to secure the win.

Tanner Burns (RP): W (1-0), 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – Burns was able to retire all six batters he faced despite not recording a strikeout. Only one of the six batted balls in play was considered hard hit and allowed his defense to make the plays behind him. When he entered his team was trailing 5-1, but all told he ends up with the pitching win for his efforts.

Khalil Watson (CF): 1-5, SB – Watson was the only other Columbus batter to record a hit in the game, but it was the hardest-hit ball of the game for the team at nearly 111 mph.

Matt Jachec (SP): 1.0 IP, 2 H, R, 2 BBs, K – Jachec made the surprise start even though the projected starter was Yorman Gomez, who is most likely on standby in case Tanner Bibee is not ready to go for his start in Los Angeles. Jachec allowed a leadoff double and then could not get out of the inning unscathed with a pair of walks and a two-out RBI single by the Cubs.

Izaak Martinez (RP): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BBs, 0 Ks – Martinez tossed a scoreless fourth with a pair of groundball outs. He needed just eight pitches to get out of the inning for a very successful first appearance of the regular season.

Jack Carey (RP): 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BBs, 0 Ks – In his Triple-A and Guardians organization debut, the 26-year-old right-hander made it through two shutout innings. He started off a little rocky with two walks, he was able to induce a groundball double play, got out of the fifth and twirled a 1-2-3 sixth.

Steven Perez (RP): S (1), 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BBs, 0 Ks – Perez relied on the defense of Dayan Frias at third after he snagged two line drives to begin Perez’s outing, then things got interesting with two walks. The southpaw was able to secure the save after he had to face the go-ahead run with a groundball out to end the game.