CJ Kayfus undergoes season-ending ankle surgery

Kayfus will get an opportunity to reset by playing everyday at the Triple-A level after going .182 (4-for-22) with one homer and two RBI over nine games this season in a bench role. The 24-year-old prospect doesn’t have much of a path to a starting role with both Chase DeLauter and Kyle Manzardo establishing themselves as everyday options at the highest level in Cleveland.

Kayfus, who would have opened up in the minors if George Valera hadn’t gotten hurt, was 0-for-10 on the season and had been out of the lineup in five straight games before getting the nod in the first game today. His double in that game should have been handled by Michael Conforto in right, but it apparently was enough to get Kayfus started. One imagines he’ll get another start Monday against the Royals’ Michael Wacha, but with the Guardians set to face lefties four times in six games this week, this isn’t the time to pick him up in fantasy leagues.

Kayfus opened the sixth inning with a leadoff double off of Edward Cabrera, but the Guardians were unable to cash him in from there. He’s off to a very slow start at the plate in his limited action thus far, hitting .083 (1-for-12) with one run scored.

Kayfus has started just half of Cleveland’s six games to open the season, going hitless in eight at-bats. The 24-year-old former prospect could continue losing playing time to Angel Martínez since it doesn’t look like rookie sensation Chase DeLauter is going anywhere, health permitting.

Kayfus, a natural first baseman, is fairly familiar with right field, but he was playing left tonight and, on an ugly sliding attempt at a fly down the line, should have been charged with an error on a fly that hit him on the cup he probably wasn’t wearing. He also made a weak attempt to throw home on an RBI single in the eighth that others might have turned into an out. Kayfus is a reasonable enough bet offensively at age 24, but he’s probably not such a good one that he should be playing in the outfield. There’s just really no excuse for the Guardians not doing more to invest in their offense over the offseason. (We say for at least the fifth year in a row.)

Kwan hasn’t started a regular season game in center field since his rookie year. He slid to that spot exactly one time last season and played there a good bit during spring training ahead of this season, hinting that this was something the Guardians were considering. He’s an exceptional outfielder so there’s no reason to think he can’t be at least passable there. Kwan playing center will open up left field for CJ Kayfus in this game as the Guardians try to get some more thump in their lineup.

His lone ball in play was hit 104 mph, but it turned into a double play. Kayfus held his own in 44 major league games last season, coming in at .220/.292/.415, but with his .125/.276/.375 line this spring, he’s probably on his way back to Triple-A for a spell. He should still get a look in right field or at 1B/DH later on.

Kayfus capped off a four-run uprising in the opening inning as he jumped on a first-pitch curveball from Sean Burke and belted a 429-foot (107.1 mph EV) two-run shot. That would be his only hit on the night but was more than enough offense for Tanner Bibee and company in this one. The 24-year-old outfielder is expected to crack the Guardians’ Opening Day roster in a reserve role.

It’s short for Collin Joseph, in case you were wondering. Kayfus will likely battle for playing time in right field and at DH this spring as he enters what he hopes is his first full big-league season.

Kayfus got the Guardians on the board with his two-out, RBI double off of Troy Melton in the second inning, pulling the Guardians to within two runs at 3-1. That would be as close as they would get. He also doubled off of Brant Hurter in the fourth inning but was left stranded there. With his two-hit night, the 23-year-old is now slashing .229/.298/.432 with four homers, 18 RBI and four stolen bases in 132 plate appearances.