One of the biggest storylines of Spring Training so far has been about how the Cleveland Guardians outfield will shake out heading into Opening Day.

The Guardians have several candidates for all three outfield positions, and not enough playing time to go around. Here’s a look at where Cleveland’s outfield stands at this point in training camp. 

Two candidates really stand out as the frontrunners to get the majority of reps in center field once the season starts: Angel Martinez and Steven Kwan.

Kwan has spent the last four seasons in left field and has been elite on that side of the outfield, but he’s getting plenty of reps up the middle this spring. There’s been some learning curves for Kwan, who’s getting reacclimated to the position, but there’s no reason to think he can’t be just as effective there.

That said, Stephen Vogt recently said it’s “too early” to say whether Kwan will stick there heading into the regular season. Still, at this point, it’d be shocking if Kwan didn’t see some time there throughout the year.

Martinez’s defense has been questionable in center throughout his career, but he could end up seeing time there simply because of how well he’s swinging the bat right now. Plus, the Guardians will need some right-handed bats against lefties, and the switch-hitter can help with that. 

Many of Cleveland’s options in left field and right field are interchangeable depending on any given lineup, so they’re all grouped together.

Based on how things have been playing out in Cactus League play, Chase DeLauter, George Valera, and Nolan Jones look like they could be Cleveland’s primary options at the corner outfield positions to begin the year. 

Valera is having a tremendous camp, logging an OPS of .857 in 21 at-bats, and Vogt has raved about how the outfielder finally looks and feels comfortable running and stopping in the field. 

As long as DeLauter is healthy, he should be on the roster and manning one of the corner outfield spots. The only question is his health, which has already been an issue during Spring Training. When DeLauter has been on the field,  he’s sh

Jones is having a rough Spring Training after starting Cactus League play with a double and a home run in the Spring opener, but it’s hard to see the Guardians simply giving up on him after re-signing him to a $2 million contract and a full offseason in Cleveland’s organization.

Having Jones be one of the Guardians’ backup outfielders heading into the season, while some of Cleveland’s other options can get everyday at-bats in the Minors, is a realistic game plan for the team heading into the season.  

Cleveland’s other outfield options include Daniel Schnemann, CJ Kayufs, and Petey Halpin. 

Schnemann could make the Opening Day roster as the team’s utility player, and he is a more than serviceable option for the Guardians to have in the outfield. He appeared in 44 games in the outfield in 2025. 

Kayfus is in an interesting position heading into the season after the Guardians signed Rhys Hoskins. With Cleveland having the veteran slugger and Kyle Manzardo at first base, Kayfus’ best path for playing time would be in the outfield. There might just not be a spot 

Halpin might not have been in the original plan for everyday at-bats, but he’s certainly making things interesting with how well he’s swinging the bat in Spring Training. If he were right-handed, he might have already locked up a spot on the roster.

Either way, if Halpin continues playing well, he’ll find playing time with the big-league team at some point. 

Fairchild has a path to make the Opening Day roster as one of the few pure right-handed hitters in camp, but the Hoskins signing complicated that. Fairchild will likely start the season in the Minors, but could definitely be in the mix later this year. 

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