Joey Cantillo

Joey Cantillo

25-Year-Old PitcherRP
Cleveland Guardians
2025 Fantasy Outlook
A 6-foot-4 lefty from Hawaii who was first ranked as a top 400 prospect back in 2018, Cantillo posted some intriguing metrics (31.1 Whiff%, 27.0 K%, 48.1 GB%, 99th percentile extension) across 38.2 innings last season working primarily as a starter for the Guardians. He had a 4.17 FIP, 3.45 xFIP and 17.7 K-BB% in eight starts, although his surface stats were less glowing (5.11 ERA 1.35 WHIP). His elite extension and slightly above-average induced vertical break allow his 92.2 mph four-seamer to play up, while his changeup and curveball will flash plus. His run in the majors was the first time Cantillo logged a walk rate below 10 percent above rookie ball since he was at Single-A in 2019, and he doesn't have much margin for error if his fastball once again sits in the low-90s. Still, Cantillo figures to open the year in the rotation for a good team with a good defense in a pitcher-friendly park, and there were enough encouraging signs last year to buy him as a cheap breakout candidate. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Rest of Season From Preseason
#417
ADP
$Signed a one-year contract with the Guardians in March of 2025.
Quick return to big leagues
PCleveland Guardians
April 29, 2025
The Guardians recalled Cantillo from Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The left-hander was optioned to Columbus on Monday, but he's eligible to be recalled a day later since Paul Sewald (shoulder) was placed on the injured list. Cantillo has been an effective bullpen piece for Cleveland early this year and has a 2.35 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB across 15.1 innings.
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Pitching Stats
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2025
2024
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
26
Last 10 Games
23
Last 5 Games
26
How many pitches does Joey Cantillo generally throw?
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
What part of the game does Joey Cantillo generally pitch?
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2023
 
 
-33%
BAA vs RHP
2025
 
 
-26%
BAA vs RHP
2024
 
 
-35%
BAA vs RHP
2023
No Stats
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2023vs Left .309 63 18 8 17 3 0 4
Since 2023vs Right .208 171 47 16 32 14 0 4
2025vs Left .278 21 8 3 5 1 0 1
2025vs Right .205 50 13 6 9 5 0 1
2024vs Left .324 42 10 5 12 2 0 3
2024vs Right .209 121 34 10 23 9 0 3
2023vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
More Splits View More Split Stats
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2023
 
 
-44%
ERA at Home
2025
 
 
-15%
ERA at Home
2024
 
 
-46%
ERA at Home
2023
No Stats
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2023Home 2.96 1.32 27.1 1 2 0 12.8 3.6 0.3
Since 2023Away 5.27 1.35 27.1 1 2 1 8.6 4.3 2.3
2025Home 2.08 1.38 8.2 0 0 0 15.6 5.2 1.0
2025Away 2.45 1.50 7.1 0 0 1 7.4 4.9 1.2
2024Home 3.38 1.29 18.2 1 2 0 11.6 2.9 0.0
2024Away 6.30 1.30 20.0 1 2 0 9.0 4.1 2.7
2023Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
More Splits View More Split Stats
Stat Review
How does Joey Cantillo compare to other relievers?
This section compares his stats with all relief pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 30 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.

* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
  • K/BB
    Strikeout to walk ratio.
  • K/9
    Average strikeouts per nine innings.
  • BB/9
    Average walks per nine innings.
  • HR/9
    Average home runs allowed per nine innings.
  • Fastball
    Average fastball velocity.
  • ERA
    Earned run average. The average earned runs allowed per nine innings.
  • WHIP
    Walks plus hits per inning pitched.
  • BABIP
    Batting average on balls in play. Measures how many balls in play against a pitcher go for hits.
  • GB/FB
    Groundball to flyball ratio. The higher the number, the more likely a pitcher is to induce groundballs.
  • Left On Base
    The percentage of base runners that a pitcher strands on base over the course of a season.
  • Exit Velocity
    The speed of the baseball as it comes off the bat, immediately after a batter makes contact.
  • Barrels/BBE
    The percentage of batted ball events resulting in a Barrel. A Barrel is a batted ball with similar exit velocity and launch angle to past ones that led to a minimum .500 batting average and 1.500 slugging percentage.
  • Spin Rate
    Spin Rate is the rate of spin on a baseball after it is released. It is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm).
  • Balls Hit 95+ MPH
    The percentage of batted balls hit that met or exceeded the 95 MPH threshold.
  • Swinging Strike
    The percentage of pitches that result in a swing and a miss.
K/BB
2.50
 
K/9
11.7
 
BB/9
4.7
 
HR/9
1.2
 
Fastball
91.7 mph
 
ERA
2.35
 
WHIP
1.37
 
BABIP
.321
 
GB/FB
2.50
 
Left On Base
65.9%
 
Exit Velocity
85.1 mph
 
Barrels/BBE
4.1%
 
Spin Rate
1811 rpm
 
Balls Hit 95+ MPH
28.8%
 
Swinging Strike
12.2%
 
Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2021
Cantillo isn't perfect, but he's a four-pitch lefty who can touch 98 mph with his fastball, and he threw 95 innings at Triple-A last season. Cantillo hasn't had a walk rate below 11 percent in a full-season league since he had a 7.3 percent walk rate at Low-A in 2019 when he was still a member of the Padres organization. However, the 12.9 percent walk rate he logged with automated balls and strikes at Triple-A is passable by his standards, as walk rates were elevated across the board at Triple-A last year. Cantillo has been limited by injuries (shoulder in 2022, abdomen in 2021) and the 119.1 innings he tallied in 2023 were a career high -- the only other time he eclipsed 100 innings was when he spun 111.2 innings in 2019. He has a career 2.13 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 134 strikeouts in 93 innings at Double-A, and he will look to pitch up to those standards in a return to Triple-A. The Guardians will always have opportunities for pre-arbitration starting pitchers, and if Cantillo can throw enough strikes, he has the stuff to rack up strikeouts with middling ratios.
Cantillo was one of three prospects acquired by Cleveland for star right-hander Mke Clevinger at the trade deadline last season. Though he has yet to pitch above High-A, Cantillo has impressed as a minor-leaguer thus far, registering a 2.51 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 11.8 K/9 across 168.2 innings, primarily as a starter. There would be considerably more buzz about the southpaw if he threw substantial heat, but his fastball tops out in the low 90s, providing some concern about how well his stuff will play as he moves up to face more advanced hitters. As it stands, Cantillo's changeup is easily his best pitch, and it's reasonable to expect the offering to carry him to the big leagues within a few seasons. Whether Cantillo is able to ascend beyond the level of a back-end starter will likely depend on his ability to add velocity and/or master his still-developing curveball.
More Fantasy News
Sent down to minors
PCleveland Guardians
April 28, 2025
The Guardians optioned Cantillo to Triple-A Columbus on Monday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Logs first hold
PCleveland Guardians
April 22, 2025
Cantillo walked one and struck out one over a scoreless one-third of an inning in Monday's 6-4 win over the Yankees.
ANALYSIS
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Secures extra-inning save
PCleveland Guardians
April 20, 2025
Cantillo earned the save in Sunday's 5-4 win at Pittsburgh, pitching a scoreless inning while allowing no hits and one walk. He had no strikeouts.
ANALYSIS
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Perfect relief appearance
PCleveland Guardians
April 6, 2025
Cantillo struck out two over 2.1 scoreless and hitless innings in Saturday's 10-4 loss to the Angels.
ANALYSIS
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Opening season in bullpen
PCleveland Guardians
March 24, 2025
Cantillo will open the season in the Guardians' bullpen, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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