Guardians' Sam Hentges: Avoids arbitration with Cleveland
Rotowire
Hentges (shoulder) agreed to a one-year, $1.337 million contract with the Guardians on Friday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Hentges is set to miss the entire 2025 campaign after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder in September. His new contract will ensure he remains with the Guardians organization for the duration of his rehab process, and the 28-year-old will look to return for the start of 2026.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Slated for shoulder surgery
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Hentges will undergo surgery on Sept. 18 to repair the capsule and labrum in his left shoulder, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Hentges is expected to need 12-to-14 months to recover, so it's unlikely he'll be ready to pitch in a game until 2026. The lefty has been excellent since being moved to a full-time relief role in 2022, posting a 2.93 ERA and 155:42 K:BB over 138 innings. Hentges is making $1.16 million in 2024 and will be eligible for salary arbitration for a second time this offseason.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Moved to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Guardians transferred Hentges (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
Hentges has been on the shelf since July 12 due to left shoulder swelling and was removed from his rehab assignment Aug. 9 with soreness in the shoulder. The move to the 60-day IL means that Hentges won't be eligible to return until Sept. 10. Anthony Gose was called up from Triple-A Columbus to take Hentges' spot on the 40-man roster.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Pulled off rehab assignment
Rotowire
Hentges has been pulled off his rehab assignment due to renewed soreness in his left shoulder, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Hentges had made four rehab appearances, but in his last one he allowed three runs without recording an out. The left-hander will be re-examined by doctors to determine the next steps in his recovery, but it sounds as if the Guardians aren't expecting the reliever to be available any time soon. Hentges has been on the 15-day injured list since July 12.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Starting rehab assignment
Rotowire
Hentges (shoulder) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday, Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Hentges will throw in a game for the first time since being placed on the 15-day injured list July 12 with shoulder inflammation. It's unclear how many rehab outings Hentges will need before rejoining the Guardians bullpen, but he should be expected back sometime in mid-August.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Goes on paternity leave
Rotowire
The Guardians placed Hentges on the paternity list Monday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Hentges will likely miss the entire three-game set against the Rangers before rejoining the club this weekend for its series versus the Twins. Peter Strzelecki was recalled from Triple-A Columbus and will assume Hentges' spot in Cleveland's bullpen.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Rejoins big-league bullpen
Rotowire
The Guardians activated Hentges (finger) from the 15-day injured list Monday.
Cleveland optioned right-hander Peter Strzelecki to Triple-A Columbus to clear room in the bullpen and on the 26-man active roster for Hentges, who opened the season on the IL with left middle finger inflammation. Hentges was added back to the 26-man active roster after he wrapped up a stellar six-appearance rehab assignment between Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Akron in which he struck out seven and allowed just five baserunners over 6.2 scoreless frames. He posted a 3.61 ERA and gathered 15 holds over 56 appearances with the big club in 2023 and should slot back in as a key part of the bridge to close Emmanuel Clase.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Beginning rehab at Double-A
Rotowire
Hentges (finger) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Akron on Friday, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.
Hentges began facing hitters earlier this week, and he's now ready to get into game action. He dealt with a swollen finger during spring training and has been out for over a month. Once he's ready to join the major-league roster, he'll be tasked with joining a competitive group that is second in the majors with a 2.29 bullpen ERA.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Set to face hitters
Rotowire
Hentges (finger) is scheduled to resume throwing live batting practice sessions early next week, MLB.com reports.
Hentges had initially been slated to face hitters Friday, but the live session ended up getting pushed back due to poor weather in Cleveland. Once Hentges throws at least two BP sessions, he'll presumably head out on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 27-year-old reliever opened the season on the 15-day injured list due to left middle finger inflammation.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Placed on IL
Rotowire
The Guardians placed Hentges (finger) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
According to MLB.com, Hentges traveled with the Guardians on their season-opening road trip, despite being placed on the IL due to left middle finger swelling. Hentges' inclusion on the road trip could imply that he's in store for a brief stay on the IL, as he already resumed throwing before camp ended and may soon be ready to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Shut down from throwing
Rotowire
Manager Stephen Vogt said Saturday that Hentges (finger) will not throw for a few days, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Hentges will avoid throwing for the next few days while the team gathers more information about the swelling in his left finger. Hentges has struggled in spring training, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five over 4.0 innings.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Getting swollen finger checked out
Rotowire
Hentges is dealing with some swelling in his finger and will visit with a doctor Thursday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
It's not clear how long the finger has been an issue, but Hentges hasn't been great this spring, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks over four innings. A more specific diagnosis and timetable should be available after Thursday's examination.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Collects extra-innings win
Rotowire
Hentges (3-2) allowed an unearned run on one hit over one inning to earn the extra-innings win over the Rays on Saturday.
Hentges allowed a run to score on a sacrifice fly, but the Guardians rallied back for two runs in the bottom of the 11th inning to earn him the win. The unearned run Saturday is the only run he's given up over his last 15 innings, a span in which he has a 19:4 K:BB and two holds. For the season, Hentges has a 4.32 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 44:16 K:BB through 41.2 innings with 10 holds and two blown saves. While he's been sharp lately, the Guardians' waiver claims from the Angels make the back end of Cleveland's bullpen quite crowded, so Hentges may be seen more often in middle-relief assignments.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Likely to be activated Friday
Rotowire
The Guardians are expected to activate Hentges (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list ahead of Friday's series opener with the Twins, MLB.com reports.
Hentges has been on the shelf all season with left shoulder inflammation, but he looks ready to make his 2023 debut for the Guardians after recently completing a two-week rehab assignment. Between two appearances at Double-A Akron and three at Triple-A Columbus, Hentges covered 4.2 innings and allowed one earned run on five hits and two walks while striking out four. Once activated from the IL, Hentges should serve as a key left-handed setup option in front of closer Emmanuel Clase.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Battling shoulder inflammation
Rotowire
Guardians manager Terry Francona said Wednesday that Hentges is dealing with left shoulder inflammation and will be re-evaluated on a week-to-week basis, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Hentges was a strong performer for the Cleveland bullpen in 2023, finishing with a 2.32 ERA and 72:19 K:BB over 62 innings in 57 appearances. The Guardians should have a clearer idea regarding his availability for the start of the season within the next couple of issues, but it's not the most encouraging sign that he's being listed as week-to-week rather than day-to-day.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Tosses two hitless innings
Rotowire
Hentges walked one and struck out one over two scoreless innings during Friday's 6-1 loss to the Mariners.
Hentges saw a 13.1-inning scoreless streak end Wednesday versus Baltimore, but he was right back at it Friday. The southpaw has impressed as a reliever this year, logging a 2.96 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 53:16 K:BB across 48.2 innings while adding a 3-2 record and two holds. Despite his development as a starter previously, it's unclear if he's in contention to stretch out late in the year after starters Zach Plesac (hand) and Aaron Civale (forearm) were placed on the injured list Friday. Cody Morris, who made his major-league debut as Friday's starter, also pitched two innings, surrendering three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Secures win in extra innings
Rotowire
Hentges (3-2) pitched a perfect 11th inning with one strikeout to earn the win Monday over the Diamondbacks.
Hentges extended his scoreless streak to 5.2 innings over his last five appearances with the clean frame, and Amed Rosario hit a walkoff single for the win. After a rough stretch in late June and early July, Hentges appears to have gotten himself back on track. He owns a 3.55 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 41:14 K:BB in 38 innings as a middle reliever this year.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Falters again Wednesday
Rotowire
Hentges (2-2) allowed two runs on three hits and two walks with one strikeout in 1.2 innings, taking the loss Wednesday versus the White Sox.
Hentges was responsible for both runs the White Sox scored in the sixth inning, and the Guardians' offense couldn't get him off the hook. He's been scored upon in seven of his last eight outings, making his strong first two months of the season a distant memory. The southpaw now has a mediocre 4.18 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 36:14 K:BB across 32.1 innings this year. All but four of the 15 runs he's allowed this year have come in his last 7.1 frames.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Clean inning Saturday
Rotowire
Hentges struck out one in a perfect inning in Saturday's 7-1 loss to the Dodgers.
Hentges was the Guardians' most effective pitcher Saturday. He's given up runs in only three of his 21 appearances this season, and he's allowed multiple runs only once. That shakes out to a 1.64 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 27:4 K:BB with one hold in 22 innings, though he's yet to get a real taste of high-leverage assignments despite the solid overall numbers. He's also posted a 2.54 FIP, which indicates he might experience a little regression, but it's not likely to be severe.
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Guardians' Sam Hentges: Logs first hold
Rotowire
Hentges walked two in one-third of a scoreless inning to earn a hold in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Orioles.
Hentges has seen limited usage, making just four appearances since May 13. He's covered just 2.1 innings in those outings. The usage is puzzling, as the southpaw has been solid with a 1.10 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 19:2 K:BB across 16.1 innings in 16 appearances. Hentges is likely ticketed for low-leverage work, and it seems unlikely he'd be an option as a potential spot starter given that he hasn't logged more than three outs in an appearance since May 4.
