This Guardians reliever could be a part of the bullpen's future

Although Erik Sabrowski has made just seven appearances for the Cleveland Guardians in 2025, he's still doing everything to look like he could be a key piece of the bullpen's future.

The 27-year-old has a sparkling 1.17 ERA with 13 strikeouts and just five walks across the span of 7 2/3 innings. He's earning his stripes as a high-leverage reliever as the Guardians continute their quest toward a postseason spot.

Here's what you know need to know about him.

Erik Sabrowski could be a part of the bullpen's future

Where did he come from?

Sabrowski got his start in professional baseball with the San Diego Padres when he was drafted in the 14th round of the 2018 MLB Draft.

After being drafted out of Cloud County Community College, the then-19-year-old began rehabbing from a torn Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL), which required Tommy John surgery.

From 2018 through 2020, he rehabbed before having his development delayed due from the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The native of Edmonton, Canada, finally got his chance in 2021, appearing in eight games for the Padres organization. With little time to shine, he did just that.

He pitched through eight games (three starts) and put up a 1.86 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 29 innings.

However, he then suffered another UCL injury that would keep him out for 2022. Just prior to the 2022 season, Cleveland picked him up in the minor-league Rule 5 draft.

In his first season with Cleveland, he pitched with Double-A Akron and went 4-0 with a 2.49 ERA in 20 games.

He earned his first call-up to Triple-A in 2024 where he had a 3.51 ERA in 37 innings but still pitched well against an increased talent level.

That helped him earn an MLB call-up, where he impressed with 12 2/3 scoreless innings at the end of the regular season before making the team's postseason roster.

Sabrowski's been unstoppable so far in his MLB tenure

He made his MLB debut this season on June 27 against the Cardinals and recorded a clean inning. That's been the norm for him this year outside an outing against the Cubs where he allowed one run in an inning and against the Orioles where he allowed one run in 1 2/3 innings.

He appeared in eight games this year and racked up an eye-popping 15 strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings. Part of the reason for that could be his better fastball, which now averaged 93.6 miles per hour — nearly a mph better than last year.

Hitters have an average exit velocity of 89mph against him and have just a .224 wOBA.

Even though he still hasn't seen a ton of action out of the bullpen, he still has a chance to be the next reliable farm system arm to come to Cleveland.

The Guardians desperately need a high-upside lefty, and they may have just found one in Sabrowski.