Former Cleveland pitcher, Mike Clevinger is slated to make his return from Tommy John surgery on Tuesday. This time Clevinger will don a Padres uniform on the hill while facing his former team. Clevinger had spent four and a half years with Cleveland prior to being dealt at the 2020 trade deadline.
The 31-year old has thought of this moment for quite a while saying:
“I’ve had that one (game) marked on my calendar since before the season,”
The Guardians traded the former ace to the Padres for Josh Naylor, Austin Hedges, Cal Quantrill, Gabriel Arias, Owen Miller and Joey Cantillo. At the time, Clevinger was a workhorse for Cleveland. He had settled in as a staple of the pitching rotation.
Clevinger made his major league debut with Cleveland. The fond feelings for the city were felt in his farewell video to the fans, the organization and his teammates.
Clev was a fan favorite as he brought a unique presence on and off the field. His laid back vibes coupled with his electric pitching drew fans to #52.
Analysts didn’t think the Guardians won the trade at the time. However, the players received for Clevinger have panned out well for Cleveland.
Tuesday will certainly be an emotional day for the former Cleveland pitcher and those he played aside.
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