Guardians Bullpen Mainstay Spotted in Atlanta, Nearing Return

Hunter Gaddis' presence at Truist Park signals his comeback from the injured list could be imminent.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 10:40pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion, with sharp geometric shapes in the colors of the Guardians and Braves uniforms, conveying the dynamic energy of the sport.The Guardians' bullpen will get a boost from the imminent return of reliever Hunter Gaddis, whose presence in Atlanta signals his comeback from injury.Cleveland Today

One of the Cleveland Guardians' most-used relief pitchers, Hunter Gaddis, was spotted in the team's clubhouse at Truist Park in Atlanta, prompting speculation that his return from the injured list could be coming soon. While Gaddis was not active for Saturday's game, manager Stephen Vogt confirmed he is feeling good after recent rehab outings and the team is taking a day-to-day approach with his activation.

Why it matters

Gaddis' return would provide a significant boost to a Guardians bullpen that has been heavily relied upon through the season's early stretch, with several relievers already logging high appearance totals. His durability and ability to handle high-leverage innings made him a key part of the bullpen last season.

The details

Gaddis, 28, has been on the injured list since experiencing forearm tightness following his Cactus League debut on Feb. 27. He's since made five rehab appearances with Triple-A Columbus, and his most recent outing came Thursday in Worcester, where he surrendered one run on one hit and hit a batter in an inning of work. Despite the uneven rehab line, the Guardians are encouraged by how Gaddis has felt physically, a far more important indicator than the results as he builds back toward game readiness.

  • Gaddis has been on the injured list since experiencing forearm tightness following his Cactus League debut on Feb. 27.
  • Gaddis made five rehab appearances with Triple-A Columbus.
  • Gaddis' most recent rehab outing came on Thursday in Worcester.

The players

Hunter Gaddis

A 28-year-old right-handed relief pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians who has been on the injured list since late February with forearm tightness.

Stephen Vogt

The manager of the Cleveland Guardians.

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What they’re saying

“He's feeling good. Obviously he's not active tonight. We just thought, he threw in Worcester and he's from here (Canton, Ga. north of Marietta). Thought we could get him here, get him with the guys. We're kind of going day by day right now with Gaddy, but he's feeling good. He felt really, really good his last couple times out.”

— Stephen Vogt, Manager

What’s next

The Guardians will need to make a corresponding roster move to activate Gaddis, with left-hander Tim Herrin potentially being optioned and right-handers Connor Brogdon and Kolby Allard needing to clear waivers to remain in the organization.

The takeaway

Gaddis' potential return would provide a much-needed boost to the Guardians' bullpen, which has been heavily relied upon through the season's early stretch. His durability and ability to handle high-leverage innings made him a key part of the relief corps last season, and the team is encouraged by his progress in his rehab outings.