Prior to yesterday’s contest with the Blue Jays, the Guardians selected left-hander Kirk McCarty onto the major league roster. It’s the second time this season that Cleveland has selected him, although this stint on the 40-man figures to last longer than his prior stay.
McCarty’s first big league call came in April as the Guardians were battling COVID-19 issues. Selected as a designated substitute player, he spent five days on the roster and made one appearance. McCarty worked three innings of four-run ball in mop-up work against the Yankees on April 24, and Cleveland eventually returned him to Triple-A Columbus. Because he’d been selected as a COVID replacement, he was taken back off the 40-man roster without passing through waivers.
This time around, McCarty’s promotion is more typical. He’s not coming up in response to any virus concerns, and Cleveland would need to run him through waivers to take him off the 40-man again. That the 26-year-old has earned a seemingly more lasting roster spot is a testament to his strong start in Columbus. McCarty has tossed 16 2/3 frames of two-run ball over four appearances at the minors’ top level, striking out 15 batters against six walks.
In a corresponding move, Cleveland reassigned righty Enyel de los Santos to Columbus. Also originally selected as a COVID replacement, de los Santos made six appearances in relief. He punched out nine of the 26 opponents he faced and averaged north of 96 MPH on his fastball, but he also issued five walks and hit a batter.