Track Record: Espino was born in Panama and moved with his family to the U.S. when he was 15. He enrolled at Georgia Premier Academy, where he was able to continue his education while also adopting a near-professional mindset on the diamond. His performance and mentality carried over to pro ball and he put himself on the fast track. He impressed at the alternate training site in 2020, more than holding his own as a teenager against more experienced prospects, and then reached High-A in 2021, his first full professional season. He opened 2022 with Double-A Akron as one of the younger pitchers in the Eastern League, but he made just four starts before a knee injury at the end of April ultimately sidelined him for the season. He spent most of the year rehabbing at the Guardians' complex in Arizona. 

Scouting Report: Espino is on the shorter end of what teams look for in a righthanded starter, but his excellent athleticism and a rare combination of explosiveness and flexibility help him access his lower half in a way most pitchers his size cannot. That helps him produce elite velocity, and his fastball can reach triple digits and sits 96 mph. Since entering pro ball, Espino has raised his arm slot and now generates significant ride on his fastball, adding to its effectiveness. He throws both a curveball and slider. His velocity helps his slider play up, and it's not uncommon for him to throw the pitch in the low 90s. It's a well above-average offering and creates swing-and-miss at an exceptional rate. His curveball is a big 12-to-6 breaker that works mostly as a chase pitch, but also creates groundball outs. His firm changeup is an effective fourth offering and has real promise but needs further refinement. He hasn't needed to use it often. Espino has a long arm action but typically pitches with average control. He has swing-and-miss stuff--in 2021 he ranked 15th in the minor leagues in strikeouts in just 91.2 innings--but he needs to continue to refine his command as he faces upper-level hitters with more mature approaches. While Espino made just four starts at Double-A before his injury, the early returns were impressive, and he was still getting plenty of swinging strikes against older hitters. 

The Future: Espino's combination of premium stuff, control and makeup mark him one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, but there is a continuing concern about his health. The Guardians announced at the start of spring training that the shoulder injury that bothered him in 2022 is continuing to be a problem. He has been diagnosed with a tear in his anterior capsule of his right shoulder. Espino is expected to rehab the injury with the hope that he can begin throwing at the end of spring training, but the injury is a worrisome one. 

-Baseball America

Please check out our other listings for more great cards at Sullivan Sports Cards where there is never a cost to ship!