ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Guardians promoted rookie outfielder Richie Palacios from Triple-A Columbus on Monday. He will be in the starting lineup batting ninth and playing right field for Cleveland in the opener of a four-game series against the Angels.
Backup catcher Luke Maile is also with the club as it starts the west coast swing of it’s current 10-game road trip. Maile was sidelined March 23 when he strained his left hamstring in an exhibition game against the Dodgers.
The Guardians were looking for depth in the outfield after rookie Steven Kwan left Sunday’s game with a tight hamstring.
Rookie catcher Bryan Lavastida and rookie lefty Kirk McCarty were optioned to Columbus to make room for Palacios and Maile on the Guardians’ active roster.
Palacios, 24, was a third-round draft pick of Cleveland in 2018 out of Towson University. He was batting .232 with a home run and 15 RBI and a .749 OPS in 56 at-bats for the Clippers. He missed the 2019 season after undergoing shoulder surgery. In three minor league campaigns, Palacios holds a .309 batting average and a .887 OPS with 14 home runs and 93 RBI in 162 games.
Maile, 31, has played parts of six seasons in the big leagues with Tampa Bay, Toronto and Milwaukee. He played just 13 games in the big leagues last year with the Brewers, hitting .300 (9-for-30) with three RBI. He spent the rest of the year at Class AAA Nashville, hitting .225 (29-for-129) with one homer and 15 RBI.
In six rehab appearances for Columbus, Maile batted .563 with a 1.713 OPS, including two home runs and six RBI in 16 at-bats. He could provide a jolt of offense for a Guardians roster that has not gotten much out of the catcher position thus far this year.
Starter Austin Hedges began the season 0-for-21 and is hitting .147 with a 42 OPS+ (league average is 100). Lavastida went just 1-for-12 in 15 plate appearances over six games as the backup to open the season. Though both did show signs of life in New York over the weekend, with Hedges swatting his first home run of 2022 on Saturday and Lavastida breaking through with his first big-league hit on Friday.
McCarty made his debut in Sunday’s loss to New York, allowing four earned runs in three innings with a pair of walks and three strikeouts.
Guardians merchandise for sale: Here’s where you can order new Cleveland Guardians gear, including T-shirts, hats, jerseys, hoodies, and much more.
If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.
More Guardians coverage
Guardians, minus beer parade, go quietly, 10-2
Francona: Yankee fans didn’t have their best day
Talking farm system and lots of prospects: Pluto
Miller rejoins team, Pilkington optioned to AAA
Naylor hitting everything in sight, including lefties
Mercado, Straw go toe-to-toe with Bleacher Creatures
Yankees rally in ninth; fans shower Guardians outfielders in beer cans
Ad Choices