Cleveland is celebrating an indispensable icon in Guardians history: Carl Willis — the man behind legendary pitching, outstanding seasons, and long-term stability — has officially been awarded the 2025 Frank Gibbons/Steve Olin Good Guy Award, a reward for someone who can demonstrate exemplary handling of the media and community.
The announcement, made just this past week, has created a buzz among Guardians fans. With more than 20 seasons in MLB — including several years as the pitching coach for the Guardians — Willis has made a name for himself not only through his pitching technique, but through his dedication, humility, and respect for all parties: teammates, coaching staff, press, and fans.
Carl Willis is not a loud voice, not a loud voice. He’s the “quiet but effective” type — still behind the net, observing, setting the tempo, directing commentary, and always willing to take the time to answer questions, share thoughts, and analyze — even when the rotation has just gone through a string of bad starts or the bullpen is struggling. In 2025, when the Guardians moved to a six-man rotation — a controversial decision — Willis remained calm, ready to explain, and transparent with the media every day.
This past season, the Guardian pitching staff’s clear progression — from a weakness to one of its strengths — was marked by Willis. The former pitcher was dubbed by many colleagues and batboys as a “pitcher whisperer” — someone who reads every move, every pitch, every weakness of an opponent to help the pitcher shine.
And the Good Guy award recognizes more than just his expertise — it’s how he treats them: respectful, transparent, willing to share. For the Cleveland press, Willis never “closed the door silently”: he always opened the club, answered interviews, explained decisions, whether they won or lost. That is why in 2025, he became the first Guardians coach to receive this award since 2021.
Honoring Willis is not only a personal pride, but also a testament to the philosophy of building a football team that the Guardians are pursuing: believing in internal development, giving opportunities to young pitchers and prioritizing unity — rather than a “big star” at all costs.
Many young factors under Willis in the 2025 season such as Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams or Slade Cecconi — thanks to his guidance — have regained their form, matured significantly and become pillars for the future.
With Willis staying through 2026 — according to the latest announcement — the Guardians have reason to hope for a stronger, more stable season.
The Good Guy Award, organized by the Cleveland chapter of the MLB Press Association, honors an individual — player or coach — who has demonstrated fairness, transparency, and cooperation with the press and the community. Presenting it to Willis — a coach with more than 40 years of professional basketball experience — is a clear affirmation that kindness and professionalism are still available in modern basketball.
When the press, teammates, fans, and even players all praise that man — Willis — it’s clear that his achievements are not measured by ERA, WAR, or strikeouts, but by respect, humanity, and the legacy he leaves behind for each generation of pitchers.
Carl Willis doesn’t need a big ceremony, a big contract, or a personal record to be great. He did it by staying, by mentoring inexperienced pitchers, by working quietly behind the stadium lights, and always staying true to the product — respecting the craft, respecting the people.
The 2025 Good Guy Award is more than just a congratulation — it’s a thank you to a man who has dedicated his life to basketball. And for Willis, basketball is more than a job — it’s family.
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