Cleveland Guardians Release 11 Minor League Players

Roster moves come as team prepares for start of new season

Mar. 29, 2026 at 6:41pm

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The Cleveland Guardians have released 11 players from their minor league system as they work to finalize their rosters ahead of the upcoming season. The list includes several pitchers, catchers, and infielders who were unlikely to contribute at the MLB level in the near future.

Why it matters

These types of roster moves are common for MLB teams as they trim down their minor league depth and focus on developing their top prospects. While the released players may struggle to find opportunities elsewhere, the Guardians are prioritizing organizational efficiency and aligning their farm system to best support the major league club.

The details

The 11 players released by the Guardians include pitchers Jake Berry, Ross Carver, Jose Contreras, Sean Heppner, Jose Ramirez, Alonzo Richardson, Tyler Thornton, and Julio Zapata, catchers David Leon and Johnny Tincher, and infielder Bryce Arnold. Most of these players were not considered top prospects and had little chance of making the Guardians' MLB roster in the near future.

  • The Guardians made the roster moves this past weekend.

The players

Cleveland Guardians

The Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Tyler Thornton

A right-handed pitcher who has previously worked out of MLB bullpens.

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The takeaway

These types of minor league roster cuts are common as MLB teams prepare for the upcoming season. While disappointing for the players involved, the Guardians are focused on optimizing their farm system to best support the major league club in the long run.