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Guardians Receive Hunter Gaddis Injury Update Before Braves Game
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- Guardians Receive Hunter Gaddis Injury Update Before Braves Game
The Cleveland Guardians have been operating without one of their key bullpen arms to open the 2026 season, but a return may be on the horizon. Right-hander Hunter Gaddis , sidelined since experiencing forearm tightness in late February, has traveled with the club to Atlanta , and according to MLB .com's Tim Stebbins, there is a chance he could be activated at some point during this road trip. The team is taking a day-by-day approach to his status.
Gaddis, a Georgia native, is making the trip as a homecoming of sorts. He grew up in Canton, Georgia, and attended Georgia State University before Cleveland selected him in the fifth round of the 2019 MLB draft. He remains on the 15-day injured list, which was backdated to March 22, and was not active for Saturday's game.
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Gaddis has been one of the most active relievers in baseball over the past two seasons, appearing in the second-most games in MLB since the start of 2024, with 151 total appearances. His absence early in 2026 has pushed Shawn Armstrong and Erik Sabrowski into higher-leverage roles in front of closer Cade Smith .
He has made five rehab appearances with Triple-A Columbus, logging 4.1 innings with five strikeouts, and his most recent outing in Worcester on Thursday was an encouraging one.
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In 2025, Gaddis appeared in 73 games, posting a 3.11 ERA and striking out 73 batters across 66.2 innings. While those numbers represented a step back from his 2024 breakout, he still struck out 26.6 percent of opponents while limiting walks to a 7.7 percent clip.
His return would immediately stabilize the back end of a bullpen that has had some early-season hiccups. The Guardians have also just started a 13-game stretch with no off-days, running from last night's series opener against the Atlanta Braves through April 22 against the Houston Astros , making bullpen depth at a premium.
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Hunter Gaddis (33)© David Richard-Imagn Images
Gaddis proved himself as one of the best setup men in the American League during his 2024 breakout. He recorded a 1.57 ERA, a 0.76 WHIP, and held opponents to a .166 batting average across 78 appearances, finishing third among AL-qualified relievers. He became the first reliever in Cleveland history to record 30 or more holds in multiple seasons, tallying 68 total since the start of 2024.
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At 28 years old with a clear role as the primary setup arm for one of the AL's better bullpens, how Cleveland manages his workload upon return will be worth monitoring as the team eyes another postseason run.
Related: Tigers Announce Justin Verlander Injury Update Before Marlins Game
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
