The Cleveland Guardians got a discouraging update on Colin Holderman, whose rehab outing ended early after he felt something again in his wrist.
Holderman, who was placed on the injured list September 4 with wrist inflammation, had been trending toward a return after spending much of the 2025 season battling the issue. The right-hander had been assigned to a rehab stint with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, but that progress hit a snag when the discomfort resurfaced on the mound.
Manager Stephen Vogt said Friday before the game that the team is still trying to sort out what comes next.
“He felt some discomfort while he was pitching again. So, we're going to gather information today and tomorrow to see what the next steps are,” said manager Stephen Vogt pregame Friday.
“Obviously, not good when you're in a rehab outing, and you're feeling pain. But before we can really identify what's going on, we just kind of have to see how he feels today and tomorrow.”
There’s also a timing issue now working against Holderman and anyone else still on the injured list. The Minor League season is ending this weekend, which shuts the door on any more live-game rehab work at that level unless a player is able to get back into big-league action.
If Holderman is healthy enough to throw early next week, the next step would likely be a bullpen session before he could face live hitters again at the MLB level.
For Cleveland, the setback is especially frustrating because Holderman was one of the bullpen’s most effective arms in the first half. He moved into bigger leverage spots quickly and took a 1.78 ERA and 0.85 WHIP over 35.1 innings into the All-Star break.
Since the middle of July, though, those numbers have climbed to a 4.67 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. That drop-off only adds to the possibility that the wrist issue may have been bothering him for longer than just the stretch leading up to his IL stint.
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