3 former Guardians hitters who are off to hot spring training starts with new team 

Every spring training, countless baseball fans across the country play the classic game of “huh, that guy’s playing for that team now.” 

While not every player in their team’s big league camp is going to fit into that team’s major league roster during the season, it provides an opportunity for plenty of journeyman players to try to make an impression for all 30 teams ahead of the marathon that is the baseball regular season. 

With that in mind, here are three former Guardians hitters who are making a good first impression with their new club. 

3 former Guardians hitters who are off to hot spring training starts with new team 

Willi Castro, Rockies

While Castro never played in a game with the Guardians, he stands out as a prospect who got away for the Guardians since they gave him up in their ill-fated trade for Leonys Martín. 

Castro blossomed into a one-time All-Star utility player with the Twins but fell upon hard times last season, which is why he had to settle for a two-year contract with the lowly Rockies in the offseason. 

But Castro’s gotten off to a hot start this spring with the Rockies to the tune of a .714 batting average (5-for-8) with a double, two RBI and a stolen base. 

That stolen base is the start of something that could be a big storyline for the Rockies this season, as Castro told MLB.com’s Thomas Harding that he’s planning on being even more aggressive on the basepaths this year.

While Castro has only stolen 75 bases throughout his seven-year career, he tallied 33 steals in one season with the Tigers in 2023 and finished last season in the 73rd percentile in sprint speed. 

Although Castro won’t generate a ton of attention since he’s going to be playing in Colorado, he could be on the cusp of a quietly productive season. 

Ben Gamel, Braves

You’re forgiven if you don’t remember Gamel’s 11-game stint with the Guardians at the start of the 2021 season. 

He only recorded one hit in 11 games with Cleveland before being designated for assignment and subsequently claimed by the Pirates. He’s bounced around the league since then but is coming off a season where he didn’t appear in a MLB game. 

That said, he hit .281 in 52 games in the minor leagues but also had to navigate multiple injuries. 

The Braves have a crowded outfield mix led by Ronald Acuña Jr., Michael Harris II and Jurickson Profar, but all three of them have had trouble staying on the field in recent years. 

Gamel seems like the classic kind of player the Braves still stash in Triple-A, but his hot spring has likely increased his standing within the organization. 

Jhonkensy Noel, Orioles

This one isn’t super surprising. While Noel’s struggles became too much for the Guardians to ignore, he’s always been a former Guardians prospect who seemed prime to explode elsewhere thanks to his incredible power. 

The Orioles outrighted him off their roster after claiming him on waivers in January so he’s in camp on a minor league deal with a spring training invite. 

But he made the most of his first impression with the Orioles by going 3-for-7 with a double and RBI through his first four spring training games while also playing in right field. 

Noel landing with the Orioles was the best-case scenario for him given he could reunite with former Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz, who is the new manager of the Orioles. 

Even if Noel doesn’t make the Orioles’ roster out of spring training, it’s hard to believe we won’t see him in the bigs with Baltimore at some point during 2026.