Several Cleveland Guardians players are making significant strides in their recoveries from injuries sustained at the end of the 2024 season. Pitchers Trevor Stephan and David Fry are both on track to return, while outfielder Oscar Valera is expected to be healthy and compete for a starting role.
Several Cleveland Guardians players who found themselves on the injured list towards the end of the 2024 season are steadily progressing in their recovery journeys and are actively taking the necessary steps to return to the field during the offseason. Among those making notable strides are pitchers Trevor Stephan and David Fry.
Stephan, who underwent a procedure on his right shoulder, is projected to be back for spring training, potentially a month earlier than fellow pitcher Shane Bieber, who missed significant time last season due to elbow issues. Stephan's return is anticipated sooner due to his role as a relief pitcher, as he won't need to gradually build up his arm strength for longer outings. 'Everything's looking good with Trevor right now,' said Guardians manager Terry Francona. 'But that's before we can actually see him get off the mound. We'll have a better timetable once he starts his mound progression.' Meanwhile, Fry, who underwent Tommy John surgery, is likely to be sidelined for the majority of the 2025 season, primarily serving as a designated hitter upon his return. 'You can't replace somebody like David Fry, just like we couldn't replace Shane Bieber last year,' Francona acknowledged. 'We have other guys that are going to get opportunities to step up and take those at-bats and help us win games.' Fry's recovery timeline is closely monitored, with the hope of a return around early June, a feat similar to Philadelphia All-Star Bryce Harper, who underwent a similar surgery in November 2022. Harper was cleared to swing and back in the Phillies lineup in just 160 days, setting a record for the fastest recovery and return to the field for a player undergoing Tommy John surgery. While similar results from Fry might be ambitious, Francona expressed optimism. 'David's feeling great, full range of motion,' the manager shared. 'He's getting his strength back, so the rehab process is going very well. We'll just see where he is when he gets to Goodyear. We've got to make sure he's a hundred percent ready to go before we throw him back in.'Adding to the positive news, outfielder Oscar Valera is expected to be fully healthy and competing for a spot in the outfield as spring training commences. Valera faced setbacks in the 2023 season due to wrist and hamstring injuries and an early spring training injury. However, the 24-year-old bounced back at Triple-A Columbus, showcasing strong performance in August with a .304 batting average, a 1.018 OPS, seven home runs, and 17 RBIs before a season-ending injury. 'Oscar Valera is healthy and will be in the mix in the outfield as camp gets underway,' Francona confirmed. 'He’s excited,' Francona added. 'He’s ecstatic to be back and we’re equally ecstatic to have him back, and for him to be around us more this year. We’re really excited for that.
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS RECOVERY INJURIES TREVOR STEPHAN DAVID FRY OSCAR VALERA MLB 2025 SEASON
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