Guardians former top pitching prospect Daniel Espino returned to the mound for the first time since April 29, 2022, on Saturday.

While the outing — three runs allowed over two-thirds of an inning with one strikeout in Triple-A Columbus’ 8-7 loss to Omaha at Huntington Park — wasn’t statistically impressive, for Espino, it was all that he could have hoped for.

“It was so good, it just felt really good,” said Espino who overcame multiple shoulder surgeries to get back on the mound. “I felt really confident and I think that I attacked the zone a lot. I’m really proud of that.”

Of the 21 pitches that the Guardians’ No. 29 prospect threw, 15 went for strikes. The right-hander’s velocity didn’t reach eye-popping levels like it did prior to his injuries, but Espino did touch 98 mph or higher f

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