Nic Enright’s story has always been one of perseverance – the kind of journey that reminds us just how unpredictable and unforgiving the road to the majors can be. After battling through the minors and overcoming Stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma – a fight that included four rounds of immunotherapy – Enright finally broke through with the Guardians last season, posting an impressive 2.03 ERA over 31 innings in his MLB debut.
But just as things seemed to be trending up, the right-hander hit a brutal setback. In early September, Enright suffered an arm injury that ultimately required Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for the foreseeable future. And now, he’s facing another tough break: the Guardians have designated him for assignment.
The move wasn’t about performance – Enright was solid when healthy – but rather a numbers game. With the Rule 5 Draft deadline looming, Cleveland needed to clear space on its 40-man roster to protect a group of promising prospects. Enright became the odd man out.
Cleveland had three open spots on the 40-man roster heading into Tuesday’s deadline, but opted to free up a fourth by DFA’ing Enright. The club used those four slots to add right-hander Austin Peterson, outfielder Khalil Watson, infielder Angel Geano, and right-hander Yorman Gómez – a group with varying levels of pedigree and potential.
Peterson, Watson, and Geano were all expected additions. Each has shown enough in the minors to warrant protection, and with Enright’s injury timeline uncertain, the Guardians made a calculated decision to invest in the future.
Gómez, however, raised some eyebrows. He’s not currently ranked among Cleveland’s top 30 prospects, but the 23-year-old made a strong case with his performance last season.
Splitting time between High-A and Double-A, Gómez logged 121 2/3 innings with a 2.96 ERA, leading the Guardians’ minor league system in both wins (12) and strikeouts (139). It’s clear the organization sees something worth protecting, even if the national prospect rankings haven’t caught up yet.
The Rule 5 Draft forces tough decisions across the league, and Cleveland was no exception. Among the notable names left unprotected are Wuilfredo Antunez, Kody Huff, Milan Tolentino, Dylan DeLucia, Trenton Denholm, Ryan Webb, and Steve Perez. Antunez, in particular, was viewed as a difficult call – especially after a scorching run in the Arizona Fall League that had evaluators buzzing.
Looking ahead, Watson and Peterson appear to be the most likely of the newly protected prospects to make an impact at the major league level next season. Watson, acquired at the 2023 trade deadline, finished last season at Triple-A and posted a .255 average with eight home runs in 43 games. His athleticism and offensive upside give him a real shot to crack the big-league roster at some point in 2026.
Peterson, meanwhile, was a workhorse last season, logging 145 2/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. Though he’s been used almost exclusively as a starter, his pitch mix and command could make him a valuable swingman or long-relief option if the Guardians need depth.
As for Geano, the 2025 season didn’t quite match the breakout campaign he had in 2024. He struggled at times and finished the year in Double-A, but the Guardians clearly believe he’s still trending in the right direction. Expect him to start 2026 in Triple-A Columbus with a chance to push for a call-up if he can rediscover his form.
For Enright, the path forward is uncertain. Recovering from Tommy John surgery is a long road, and now he’ll face it without a guaranteed roster spot.
But if his past is any indication, betting against him would be a mistake. He’s already proven he can overcome more than most players will ever face.
This is just the next chapter in a career that’s been defined by resilience.
