Guardians’ Prospect Justin Campbell Eyes Long-Awaited 2026 Debut After Injury Setbacks
The Cleveland Guardians are heading into spring training with a promising mix of young talent, and while most of the attention has centered on top position player prospects like Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana, there’s another name to keep an eye on-right-hander Justin Campbell. After a string of injuries that’s delayed his professional debut for nearly four years, the 24-year-old is finally healthy and ready to compete.
Campbell, a competitive balance pick in the 2022 MLB Draft (No. 37 overall), hasn’t thrown a pitch in a pro game since his final season at Oklahoma State. But that might change in 2026.
Let’s rewind for a moment. Campbell’s road to recovery has been anything but straightforward.
He underwent ulnar nerve decompression surgery on his throwing elbow in May 2023, followed by Tommy John surgery in April 2024. Then came wrist surgery in October for De Quervain tenosynovitis.
That’s three surgeries in less than 18 months-enough to derail most young pitchers’ timelines. He was originally expected to debut in 2025, but a setback last July pushed things back again.
Now, with spring training opening at the Guardians’ Goodyear Development Complex, Campbell is back on the mound and throwing bullpens. And that’s no small feat. For a 6-foot-7 pitcher who hasn’t pitched competitively since college, just getting to this point is a win.
The Guardians, to their credit, don’t need to force the issue. Their pitching staff is in a good place heading into camp.
Gavin Williams leads the rotation and is already drawing early buzz as a potential AL Cy Young candidate. Parker Messick, who impressed in a late-season call-up last year, looks poised to take on a full-season role.
That’s a solid one-two punch for manager Stephen Vogt to build around.
In the bullpen, the team is still adjusting to life without closer Emmanuel Clase, who remains out of the picture due to an ongoing MLB gambling investigation and criminal charges. Cade Smith stepped into the closer’s role last July and held it down with poise, and he’ll continue to anchor the back end of the bullpen. Hunter Gaddis returns as the primary setup man, while offseason additions Shawn Armstrong, Colin Holderman, and Connor Brogdon give the Guardians some much-needed depth.
All of this means there’s no pressure to rush Campbell. The Guardians can afford to be patient, giving him time to find his rhythm and build up innings-whether that’s in the minors or, eventually, at Progressive Field.
But make no mistake: if Campbell can stay healthy and show flashes of the form that made him a top-40 pick, he could be a difference-maker down the stretch. His size, pitch mix, and college pedigree still carry weight, even after the long layoff.
For now, the focus is on getting him back into game action. And after everything he’s been through, just seeing Campbell toe the rubber again-whether it’s in Arizona, Akron, or Columbus-will be a welcome sight for the Guardians and their fans.