Daniel Espino was born in Panama, Panama, on January 5, 2001. He played high school baseball at Georgia Premier Academy in Statesboro, GA. He was the top-ranked RHP in Georgia and the second-overall player in the state in 2019. Espino made nine starts going 9-0 with a 0.32 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 44 innings in his senior year. Espino was the top-ranked RHP and the fourth overall player in the country. He committed to play college baseball at Louisiana State University.
When Was Daniel Espino Drafted?
Espino was the 23rd-ranked prospect entering the 2019 draft and the ninth-ranked high school prospect. He was drafted with the 24th overall pick by the Cleveland Guardians.
Daniel Espino Guardians Tenure
2019
In Espino’s first season he pitched for the Guardians rookie league team and their Low-A affiliate Mahoning Valley. He made nine starts going 0-3 with a 3.80 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and 34 strikeouts in 23.2 innings.
2020
The minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021
Espino pitched at Single-A Lynchburg and High-A Lake County making 20 starts going 3-8 with a 3.73 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP, and 152 strikeouts in 91.2 innings.
2022
Espino entered the season as the 65th-ranked prospect by Baseball America and the 53rd-ranked prospect by MLB.com. He pitched at Double-A Akron making four starts going 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA, a 0.70 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts in 18.1 innings. He would be sidelined with patellar tendinitis but as he was recovering he sustained a right shoulder injury which ended his season.
2023
Espino was ranked the 19th prospect by Baseball America and the 16th by MLB.com. He arrived at Spring Training for the Guardians but his shoulder continued to cause issues for him and he would undergo surgery in May which will keep him out for 12 to 14 months.
Future
ITD ranks Espino as the 99th overall prospect and the Guardians fourth-ranked prospect. When he is good to go he is expected to pitch at Double-A in 2024 with a potential Triple-A appearance likely.
