The Cleveland Guardians are in the middle of a strange season. From a ten-game losing streak, which put the club on thin ice, to a strong month, which thrust the team back into postseason contention. There's been plenty of change for Cleveland in 2025.
With the season coming to a close and a spot in the starting rotation open, the Guardians could look to call up a new starter to give them a chance in the Major Leagues.
According to Zack Meisel of The Athletic, the Guardians could decide to call up top left-handed pitching prospect Parker Messick, their second-round pick out of Florida State in 2022.
Why Messick Could Get the Call
While the Guardians could make the postseason still with a strong final month and a half, the chances aren't great, especially after getting swept by the Atlanta Braves over the weekend.
The Guardians need a starter for Wednesday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Meisel identified Messick as a top option for the Guardians to call up.
"If the Guardians, say, tab Messick to start in Arizona this week," Meisel writes, "there's room to add him to the 40-man roster, since the club recently outrighted Trevor Stephan to clear a spot."
With a spot on the roster open, a call-up of Messick to the MLB club is a lot easier than it normally might be. This situation, as Meisel states, is one that the Guardians "intentionally created."
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Messick is the Guardians' 12th-ranked prospect in their farm system by MLB Pipeline. He's a left-handed pitcher who is 24 years old and has flashed in Triple-A this season.
Across 20 starts in Triple-A, Messick has a 3.47 ERA, 119 strikeouts, 42 walks, and a 1.22 WHIP in 98.2 innings pitched.
This season is his first in Triple-A, and while he's had a few rough starts here and there, overall, the Guardians' top left-handed pitching prospect has been solid.
With a spot in the rotation open for Wednesday, and the Guardians' ability to call up Messick without making any major roster moves, Meisel alludes to a Messick call-up as a real possibility for Wednesday's game.
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