Shane Bieber dazzles in rehab debut for All-Star ACL Guardians squad

Cleveland Guardians minor league recap for Sunday, June 1, 2025

ACL Guardians 6, ACL Rangers 0

Box Score · Guardians improve to 11-11

I don’t often start these minor league recaps with the ACL Guardians game, but this was a big one as it featured the return to the mound of Guardians star Shane Bieber, the pro debut of a top pitching prospect, plus three rehab appearances from top position player prospects.

Let’s start with Bieber, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery. He pitched scoreless 2.1 innings and was flat out dominant, striking out five and walking none while allowing just one hit. He looked like he was recovering from a toe injury, not a tear in his elbow. Perhaps he’ll be back in the rotation sooner rather than later.

Also making his debut on the mound was Chase Mobley, one of the top prep pitching prospects from the 2024 MLB Draft who Cleveland paid significantly overslot with a 10th round pick. Mobley struck out two and allowed one hit in a scoreless inning of work.

Dominican pitching prospect Erigaldi Perez added 3.0 scoreless innings to help complete the shutout.

On the offensive side of the equation, prospects George Valera, Jaison Courio and Angel Genao all appeared in rehab appearances as they worked their way back from separate injuries.

Genao had the best game, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. Chourio and Valera also both singled while Juneiker Caceres reached base safely three times, going 1-for-2 with two walks. Outfielder Yeiferth Castillo went 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Columbus Clippers 6, Rochester Red Wings 7

Box Score · Clippers fall to 22-31

Columbus was up 6-0 until a late bullpen blowup cost the Clippers a victory.

It certainly wasn’t Parker Messick’s fault. The southpaw prospect tossed 5.0 shutout innings with six strikeouts and two walks. He allowed five hits.

Unfortunately, Ryan Webb had a nightmare day while playing piggyback partner. He allowed seven runs on seven hits (four of them home runs) with three strikeouts and two walks.

Offensively, Johnathan Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a home run. Brayan Rocchio also homered, his fourth already since being demoted to Triple-A.

Other standouts included C.J. Kayfus, who went 2-for-4 with a double; Dom Nunez, who went also went 2-for-4 with a double; and Milan Tolentino, who went 2-for-4. Petey Halpin singled and walked while Christian Cairo went 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base.

Akron RubberDucks 10, Somerset Patriots 5

Box Score · RubberDucks improve to 34-16

Akron finished this game in an unorthodox way with a triple play.

Kahlil Watson continues to impress as he had another big game on Saturday, going 1-for-2 with a home run, a walk, a hit by pitch and a sacrifice.

Cameron Barstad went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and a walk. Other standouts included Cooper Ingle, Dayan Frias and Guy Lipscomb, who all went 2-for-4 with a walk.

Starting pitcher Trenton Denholm allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits in 5.0 innings. He struck out four and walked none.

Zach Jacobs was superb in long relief, tossing 3.0 scoreless frames with four strikeouts.

Lake County Captains 2, Cedar Rapids Kernels 3

Box Score · Captains fall to 25-25

Lake County couldn’t string hits together on Saturday, scoring just two runs despite collecting 10 hits.

Alfonsin Rosario did his part, going 2-for-3 with a hit by pitch. He has a .299 batting average and a .911 OPS this season at age 20.

Jonah Advincula went 2-for-4 while Christian Knapczyk went 1-for-3 with a walk and Wuilfredo Antunez homered. Johnny Tincher went 1-for-3 with a hit by pitch.

Starting pitcher Cam Favors pitched well, allowing a pair of runs on four hits with six strikeouts and one walk in 5.0 innings. Isaak Martinez gave up a run in 2.0 innings of relief.

Lynchburg Hillcats 8, Fredricksburg Nationals 5

Box Score · Hillcats improve to 30-20

Welbyn Francisca continued his recent hot streak, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and a sacrifice fly.

Also impressing was Ryan Mitchell, the forgotten-about 21-year-old outfielder who was acquired from Toronto in the Andres Gimenez trade. Mitchell missed a month with an injury but looks locked in, going 3-for-5 and raising his batting average to .450.

Tommy Hawke reached base safely three times, going 1-for-3 with a pair of walks while Bennett Thompson and Robert Lopez both went 2-for-4 with a double. Luis Merejo went 2-for-5.

Melkis Hernandez had his first rough outing of the season, allowing four runs on five hits with four walks in 3.0 innings pitched. Xavier Martinez and Eudry Alcantara both pitched 2.0 innings of scoreless relief.