A Fresh Start in Cleveland
The Cleveland Guardians’ bullpen has faced challenges in recent years, and the addition of Connor Brogdon brings an opportunity for improvement. Brogdon, who spent 2025 with the Los Angeles Angels, struggled to find consistent success, posting a 5.55 ERA over 47 innings. While his numbers don’t jump off the page, the Guardians are hoping that a change of scenery will help him unlock his potential.
Brogdon’s fastball is one of his most impressive weapons. Averaging around 95.5 mph, he has the velocity needed to overpower hitters in the late innings. His slider, which he uses effectively to miss bats, is another key part of his repertoire. While he’s not without his flaws, the Guardians’ pitching development system is known for transforming struggling pitchers, and Brogdon could benefit from Cleveland’s coaching staff, which has a strong track record of helping pitchers tap into their potential.
What Brogdon Brings to the Table
Brogdon’s biggest strength lies in his raw stuff. His fastball velocity and ability to generate strikeouts have made him an appealing bullpen arm, even though he’s yet to fully put everything together at the major league level. In his career, he’s averaged over 9 strikeouts per 9 innings, which shows his potential to miss bats. He also has decent command, with a walk rate of around 3.3 walks per 9 innings.
However, one of Brogdon’s biggest challenges has been avoiding hard contact. In 2025, he gave up too many hits and home runs, leading to his inflated ERA. The Guardians are hopeful that adjustments in pitch location, mechanics, and pitch selection could improve his results moving forward.
With his combination of velocity and a solid slider, Brogdon has the ability to be a solid middle reliever or even a setup man in certain situations. His skill set fits well in Cleveland’s bullpen, which has a few spots available for pitchers who can come in and eat innings or provide high-leverage outs.
The Guardians’ decision to sign Brogdon is a low-risk, high-reward move. With his modest one-year deal worth approximately $900,000, the financial commitment is minimal. This makes Brogdon an ideal candidate for Cleveland, which has been known for finding value in pitchers with untapped potential.
If Brogdon can improve his command and fine-tune his pitches under Cleveland’s guidance, he could emerge as a key piece of the bullpen. Even if he doesn’t thrive in a high-leverage role immediately, his ability to provide depth and potentially take on multiple innings would be an asset for the team.
The Guardians’ Pitching Development Success
Cleveland has a strong reputation for maximizing pitchers’ potential, and Brogdon could be the next success story. The Guardians’ player development system is renowned for helping pitchers with similar profiles, turning raw stuff into consistent performance. If Brogdon can get back on track and improve his control, he could become a reliable option in middle and late innings. His fastball and slider, combined with Cleveland’s pitching philosophy, could be the recipe for success.
Conclusion: A Valuable Depth Piece for 2026
For the Cleveland Guardians, signing Connor Brogdon represents a savvy, low-cost move with high upside. While he’s not a household name, Brogdon’s fastball, strikeout ability, and the Guardians’ proven development system could make him a key bullpen contributor in 2026. His signing adds depth to a bullpen that has room for improvement, and if everything clicks, he could emerge as a valuable weapon in high-leverage situations.
While it remains to be seen if Brogdon can overcome his past struggles, the Guardians’ investment in him could pay off in a big way — and could provide them with the bullpen help they’ve been looking for.
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