Petey

Halpin

Halpin returns to the minors after a one-month stint with the Guardians. The 24-year-old has hit .167 (5-for-30) with one RBI and two steals in 18 games this season.

He’ll replace George Valera on the Guardians’ bench after Valera was optioned back to Triple-A following Thursday’s contest. Halpin, a defensive replacement and pinch-runner extraordinaire, saw just eight plate appearances in six games with the Guardians during the 2025 campaign.

The 23-year-old outfielder entered camp as a longshot to make the Opening Day roster, so him getting trimmed on Friday didn’t come as a shock. He’ll start the year in a regular role at Triple-A Columbus and should get an opportunity with the Guardians once injury or ineffectiveness eventually strike.

The 23-year-old outfielder pulled the Guardians to within two runs at 7-5 when he tagged Ryan Loutos for a three-run blast (102.2 mph EV) in the seventh inning. He also led off the ninth inning with a single and came around to score on an error. Halpin saw action with the Guardians down the stretch in 2025 and could open the season in a bench role for the Guardians in 2026.

Halpin earns his first promotion to the big leagues prior to Saturday’s doubleheader against Minnesota after batting .249/.321/.414 with 14 homers and 15 steals over 126 games this season at the Triple-A level. The 23-year-old former third-round pick from the 2020 MLB Draft will likely occupy a bench role for Cleveland as they make their final push towards the postseason.

Halpin was added to Cleveland’s 40-man roster last November after posting a serviceable .713 OPS with 12 homers and 12 steals last year at Double-A Akron. The 22-year-old outfielder was a third-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.

The quartet will be protected from selection in next month’s Rule 5 Draft. Enright was a Rule 5 pick from the Marlins a couple seasons ago and is the closes to the big leagues after pitching well last year in a handful of appearances at Triple-A Columbus. The other three are ranked in the mid-20’s of Cleveland’s system, according to MLB Pipeline.

The 20-year-old outfielder drew a walk off of Peter Strzelecki in the fifth inning but wound up stranded on third base. He then plated a run with a fielder’s choice in the seventh inning that tied the score at 3-3. Halpin added a two-run double off of Jake Cousins in the eighth that ultimately put the game out of reach. He’s not a threat to crack the Opening Day roster, having never played above High-A ball, but he’s a name to keep an eye on for the future.