
Joey Cantillo's Rise: From Triple-A to Ace
About this episode
Joey Cantillos transformation from a struggling pitcher to a reliable mid-rotation ace for the Cleveland Guardians is a testament to the power of perseverance and self-improvement. After being optioned to Triple-A Columbus in 2025 to refine his mechanics, Cantillo returned to the major leagues with a vengeance, posting a stellar 1.55 ERA over his final five starts of the season. This impressive performance helped the Guardians secure the American League Central title.
In 2026, Cantillo has continued his dominant form, starting the season with an undefeated record and a string of impressive outings against top teams like the Royals, Mariners, and Dodgers. Manager Stephen Vogt has praised Cantillos mental growth, noting that the pitcher is no longer rattled by pressure and has developed a newfound confidence on the mound.
If Cantillo can maintain this level of performance, the Guardians have a valuable asset in their rotation for years to come. His journey from struggle to success serves as an inspiration to fellow athletes and fans alike, demonstrating that with hard work and determination, even the most challenging setbacks can be overcome.
Support the show:
Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn.
Advertise on DNN:
[email protected]
This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Report issues to [email protected].
View sources & latest updates:
https://sources.thednn.ai/7e746e3725e3b763
Get every episode summarized
Each time MLB Baseball News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
Transcript ready
18 searchable segments. Every word is indexed and playable.
Full transcript
MLB Baseball News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! — Joey Cantillo's Rise: From Triple-A to Ace. Machine-transcribed; use the interactive transcript above to jump the player to any line.
On April 10, Joey Contillo hit a rough patch with the Cleveland Guardians back in 2025, so on August 17, they optioned the, then 25-year-old down to AAA Columbus to tweak his mechanics. That move paid off big time, he returned sharper than ever for the stretch run. Coming back, he posted a 1.55 ERA with a 4-1 record over his final five starts that year, helping the Guardians erase a 15-and-a-half game deficit to snack first in the American League Central. Heading into 2026, he's carried that fire right into the new season. On April 8, Contillo dominated the Kansas City Royals in a 10-to-2 win, going 5.2 innings with nine strikeouts, just three hits. Two walks and one earned run. The Guardians swept the series 2-to-1 and stayed undefeated in his starts this year. No losses in any series so far. He's been steady against top teams too, like the Mariners where he allowed two earned runs and five strikeouts, or the Dodgers with one earned run, and six Ks.
Manager Stephen Vogue praises his mental growth, saying the kids more confident now, not rattle like in past meltdowns. If Contillo keeps locking in like this, Cleveland's got a reliable mid-rotation ace for years, turning last year's struggles into this season's edge. That's the story for today. MLB News Today, driven by AI, I'm Corey with The Story.
More episodes
More from MLB Baseball News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

A's Spoiler Bid Against Blue Jays | MLB News
MLB Baseball News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

Jonah Tong Shows Resilience on the Mound | MLB News
MLB Baseball News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

Athletics’ Gritty Win Shakes Playoff Race | MLB News
MLB Baseball News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

Rays vs Braves Clash at Top of Divisions | MLB News
MLB Baseball News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!