The Guardians are turning to one of their most intriguing young infielders, calling up Angel Genao from Triple-A Columbus for Wednesday night’s game against the Mets.
Genao, who ranks as Cleveland’s second-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline, arrives with a bat that has been loud at Columbus. The switch-hitter is hitting .300 with 13 homers, 53 RBI and a .875 OPS, and he added to that line Tuesday night by going 2 for 5 with two homers and three RBI against Syracuse.
He started the season at Double-A Akron and hit .271 there with three homers and 11 RBI before moving up to Columbus.
The move could signal two things for Cleveland. One is that the club wants a better option than utility man Gabriel Arias.
The other is that José Ramírez may be headed back to the injured list because of soreness in his surgically repaired left hand. Ramírez sat out Tuesday night’s game with pain in that hand.
Arias began the season as the Guardians’ starting shortstop, but a left hamstring injury in early April sent him to the injured list for more than eight weeks. During that stretch, Brayan Rocchio shifted from second to short and claimed Arias’ spot, while Cleveland also brought up rookie Travis Bazzana from Columbus to handle second base. Bazzana was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft.
Since returning from the IL, Arias has been used as a utility man, mostly stepping in for Ramírez. Ramírez had broken the hamate bone in his left hand on June 13, underwent surgery to remove it and missed five weeks. He came off the IL on July 22, but his bat has not yet come around.
Arias had a rough night in Tuesday’s 6-2 loss to the Mets, committing a throwing error from third base that helped spark a three-run inning for New York. The home crowd let him hear it after that, booing him in every at-bat.
Genao’s glove should give Cleveland some flexibility. He’s a shortstop by trade, but he’s also seen time at second and third this year at Akron and Columbus. Across both levels, he has played 69 games at shortstop, 14 at third base and eight at second base.
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