Daniel Espino
{{short description|Panamanian baseball player (born 2001)}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Daniel Espino
|image = Daniel Espino (53479465983) (cropped).jpg
|caption = Espino in 2024
|team = Cleveland Guardians
|number = 66
|position = Pitcher
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|1|5}}
|birth_place = Panama City, Panama
|bats = Right
|throws = Right
|debutleague = MLB
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|statleague = MLB
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Daniel Andres Espino (born January 5, 2001) is a Panamanian professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Amateur career
Espino was born and raised in Panama.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20190603/mlb-draft-indians-select-high-school-pitcher-daniel-espino-with-24th-overall-pick|title=MLB Draft: Indians select high school pitcher Daniel Espino with 24th overall pick|first=Ryan|last=Lewis|website=The Columbus Dispatch}} He came to the United States during the summer of 2016 with the Albany Paulies Baseball Program in Albany, Georgia which helped him to find an opportunity to move to the United States as a sophomore in high school. He began attending Georgia Premier Academy in Statesboro, Georgia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2019/06/cleveland-indians-top-draft-pick-daniel-espino-moved-to-the-us-from-panama-to-pursue-his-big-league-dream.html|title=Cleveland Indians top draft pick Daniel Espino moved to the U.S. from Panama to pursue his big league dream|first=Joe|last=Noga|date=June 4, 2019|website=cleveland.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wjcl.com/article/southern-routes-daniel-espinos-baseball-journey-brings-him-to-ludowici-and-statesboro/27511662|title=SOUTHERN ROUTES : Daniel Espino's Baseball Journey brings him to Ludowici and Statesboro|first=Frank|last=Sulkowski|date=May 17, 2019|via=www.wjcl.com}}{{cite web | last=Hall | first=Brendan C. | title=Georgia Premier Academy RHP Daniel Espino hits 99 mph at Perfect Game All-American Classic | website=USA Today High School Sports | date=2018-08-13 | url=https://www.usatodayhss.com/story/sports/high-school/2018/08/12/georgia-premier-academy-rhp-daniel-espino-hits-99-mph-at-perfect-game-all-american-classic/76321453007/ | access-date=2025-02-09}}{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2837844-18-year-old-daniel-espino-dreams-his-100-mph-heat-can-make-mariano-rivera-proud|title=18-Year-Old Daniel Espino Dreams His 100 MPH Heat Can Make Mariano Rivera Proud|first=Joe|last=Lemire|website=Bleacher Report}} As a senior in 2019, he went 9-0 with a 0.32 ERA.{{Cite web|url=https://heavy.com/sports/2019/05/four-amateur-players-2019-mlb-draft/|title=Four Amateur Players to Attend 2019 MLB Draft|first=Derek|last=Helling|date=May 30, 2019}} He committed to play college baseball at Louisiana State University.{{Cite web|url=https://www.perfectgame.org/Players/PlayerProfile.aspx?ID=548223|title=Daniel Espino Class of 2019 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA|website=Perfect Game}}
Professional career
Espino was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the first round, with the 24th overall selection, of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2019/06/rhp-daniel-espino-picked-no-24-overall-by-cleveland-indians-in-2019-mlb-draft.html|title=RHP Daniel Espino picked No. 24 overall by Cleveland Indians in 2019 MLB draft|first=Joe|last=Noga|date=June 4, 2019|website=cleveland.com}} He signed for $2.5 million and made his professional debut with the Arizona League Indians.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2019/06/cleveland-indians-expected-to-sign-top-10-draft-picks-today.html|title=Cleveland Indians sign No.1 pick RHP Daniel Espino for $2.5 million; sign 32 of 40 draft picks in one day|first=Paul|last=Hoynes|date=June 14, 2019|website=cleveland.com}} After pitching to a 1.98 ERA over six starts, he was promoted to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wfmj.com/story/40913593/indians-promote-first-round-pick-daniel-espino-to-scrappers|title = Indians promote first round pick Daniel Espino to Scrappers}} Over nine starts between both teams, Espino went 0-3 with a 3.80 ERA, striking out 34 over {{fraction|23|2|3}} innings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news-herald.com/2021/08/06/daniel-espino-continues-to-develop-as-captains-lose-to-lansing/|title=Daniel Espino continues to develop as Captains lose to Lansing|date=7 August 2021}} Espino did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the season.{{cite web | last=West | first=Jenna | title=Minor League Baseball's 2020 Season Canceled | website=SI.com | date=2020-06-30 | url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/06/30/minor-league-baseball-season-canceled-2020-coronavirus | access-date=2025-02-09}}
Espino split the 2021 season between the Lynchburg Hillcats and the Lake County Captains, starting twenty games and going 3-8 with a 3.73 ERA and 152 strikeouts over {{fraction|91|2|3}} innings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/daniel-espino-indians-2021-minor-league-player-of-the-year/|title=Daniel Espino: Indians 2021 Minor League Player of the Year}}
He was assigned to the Double-A Akron RubberDucks to begin the 2022 season. He made 4 starts for the team, recording a 1-0 record and 2.45 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 18.1 innings pitched. He was placed on the injured list in May with patellar tendinitis, and did not make another appearance in 2022.{{Cite web|title=Guardians’ Daniel Espino: Goes on MiLB IL|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/guardians-daniel-espino-goes-on-milb-il/|access-date=2023-02-20|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In December, it was announced that Espino had missed the remainder of the year due to a sore right shoulder.{{Cite web|title=Guardians’ Daniel Espino: Shoulder to blame for missed time|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/guardians-daniel-espino-shoulder-to-blame-for-missed-time/|access-date=2023-02-20|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}
On February 20, 2023, Espino was shut down from throwing for eight weeks after suffering a right shoulder strain and additional muscle tear in the same shoulder.{{Cite web|title=Guardians’ Daniel Espino: No throwing for eight weeks|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/guardians-daniel-espino-no-throwing-for-eight-weeks/|access-date=2023-02-20|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} On May 3, it was announced that Espino would miss 12-to-14 months after undergoing a right shoulder anterior capsule repair surgery.{{cite web|title=Guardians’ Daniel Espino: Out 12-to-14 months after surgery|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/guardians-daniel-espino-out-12-to-14-months-after-surgery/amp/|access-date=2023-05-04|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}
The Guardians selected Espino's contract on November 14, 2023, adding him to their 40-man roster.{{cite news |last1=Bell |first1=Mandy |title=Quantrill DFA'd in surprising move to protect young pitchers |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/cal-quantrill-designated-for-assignment-by-guardians |publisher=MLB.com |date=November 14, 2023}} On March 14, 2024, it was announced that Espino had undergone another surgery to repair new shoulder capsule damage and his rotator cuff. The procedure was expected to prevent him from pitching during the 2024 season.{{cite web | last=Bell | first=Mandy | title=Daniel Espino shoulder surgery 2024 | website=MLB.com | date=2024-03-14 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/daniel-espino-shoulder-surgery-2024 | access-date=2025-02-09}}
Espino was optioned to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers to begin the 2025 season.{{Cite web|title=Cleveland Guardians Make First Roster Moves of Spring Training|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/guardians/news/cleveland-guardians-make-first-roster-moves-of-spring-training|access-date=March 12, 2025|website=si.com|language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=682982|fangraphs=|brm=espino003dan}}
{{2019 MLB Draft}}
{{Cleveland Indians first-round draft picks}}
{{Cleveland Guardians roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Espino, Daniel}}
Category:Baseball players from Panama City
Category:Panamanian expatriate baseball players in the United States
Category:Arizona League Indians players
Category:Mahoning Valley Scrappers players
Category:Lake County Captains players
Category:Lynchburg Hillcats players