Behind the Guardians’ Franco Aleman Roster Decision

There was a lot of hype and excitement for Franco Aleman when the Cleveland Guardians called him up from Triple-A Columbus to make his MLB debut earlier in the week. However, shortly after the Guardians added him to the big-league roster, they optioned him back down to the Minor Leagues and called up another reliever, Codi Heuer, to take his spot on the roster. By all indications and stats, Aleman has the potential to not just be a long-term member of Cleveland’s bullpen.

His elite fastball and strikeout rate also make him a possible high-leverage option at some point in his career. So, why did the Guardians decide to option Aleman back down after just two outings? Manager Stephen Vogt explained on Wednesday that the decision simply came down to the Guardians' current bullpen depth and the need for a fresh arm.

“Just the position we're in right now, we needed some innings today, with where the bullpen is,” explained Cleveland’s skipper. “So Codi will be with us, which we're really excited. [He] had a great spring [and] off to a great start in Columbus; so, really excited to have Codi here.

” May 10, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Franco Aleman (55) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images As Vogt mentioned, Heuer has been throwing the ball incredibly well at Triple-A so far this season. He owns a 2.