Milan Tolentino is showing the Cleveland Guardians that he could make an impact on the team sometime in 2026.
The Cleveland Guardians have had several players stand out during Spring Training, making the case that they should be on the Opening Day roster or should fly up the team’s prospect rankings.
One of Cleveland’s more under-the-radar prospects is not just having a tremendous spring, but he’s proving that he could help the Guardians this season, and that’s Milan Tolentino.
Tolentino isn’t considered one of Cleveland’s top-30 prospects by MLB Pipeline, but he’s certainly playing as he should at the very least be in that group.
The 24-year-old has received 19 at-bats in 13 games this spring, and owns a 1.023 OPS, including two home runs, in those appearances.
Tolentino has also shown the ability to move around the infield this spring. He has primarily played shortstop during his Minor League career, but has appeared at short, second base, and third base for the Guardians so far during camp.
Columbus Clippers infielder Milan Tolentino (7) looks to throw the ball during the game against the St. Paul Saints at Huntington Park on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. © Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesStephen Vogt said on Monday that the team informed Tolentino that he will not be on the Opening Day roster, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be a factor for Cleveland this year.
“I thought Milan Tolentino probably had one of the best camps of anybody in our camp,” said Cleveland’s skipper.
“The growth that we saw just in one year from last spring to the spring, just a very mature approach at the plate barreling all kinds of pitches off lefties, off righties, the base running was tremendous, the defense was outstanding, and we know he can pretty much go anywhere on the field to play.”
Tolentino was selected back in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft and has slowly made his way through the farm system. Even though his track has been slower than
It’s not like this power surge in the Cactus League is a new development for Tolentino. The left-hander hit 21 home runs with a .751 OPS in 2025.
The track record is there; now, Tolentino may just be waiting for an opportunity.
In many ways, Tolentio’s Spring Training is very reminiscent of that of Daniel Schnemann’s in 2024; an older prospect who made an impact in his spring opportunities, continued to swing the bat well in the Minor Leagues, and eventually got the call-up to the big leagues later on in the year.
Time will tell if Tolentino follows the same path as Schneemann, but the Guardians certainly love their versatile fielders and are willing to find a spot for them in the lineup if they continue to swing a hot bat.
Who’s to say that Tolentino can’t help the Guardians in some capacity at some point in 2026?
As Vogt said, “He’s just one phone call away.”
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