The Cleveland Guardians selected the contract of shortstop Milan Tolentino from their Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, adding the 24-year-old to the 40-man roster, according to the MLB transaction log.
The move protects the left-handed-hitting, right-handed-throwing infielder from the upcoming Rule 5 draft and keeps him from becoming a minor-league free agent after years in the organization.
Tolentino, drafted by Cleveland in the fourth round (124th overall) of the 2020 draft, has never ranked as a top prospect but has shown a combination of power, plate discipline, and defensive versatility.
In 2026 with Columbus, he slashed .225/.328/.453 with 21 home runs, 74 RBI, roughly 20 stolen bases, and a 157/65 strikeout-to-walk ratio across about 497 plate appearances.
Over the past two seasons at Triple-A he has accumulated 957 plate appearances.
During that time, he has totaled 42 home runs, a 12.5% walk rate, and a 32.9% strikeout rate, producing a .221/.321/.445 line and a 100 wRC+—league-average production overall, driven by the power and walks that offset the contact issues.
Defensively he has spent the bulk of his time at shortstop while logging substantial work at second and third base, with brief exposure in the outfield this season.
That flexibility fits a Guardians infield already featuring José Ramírez at third, Travis Bazzana at second, and options such as Brayan Rocchio or Ángel Genao at shortstop, with Daniel Schneemann available in a utility role.
The same day, the club declined its club option on reliever Trevor Stephan and its half of a mutual option on Shawn Armstrong, moves that cleared roster space as the 40-man stood at 36 after Tolentino’s addition.
Tolentino is not expected to force his way into a starting role immediately.
However, the 40-man spot gives him a realistic path to compete for a utility or bench job in spring training and a chance to make his major-league debut in 2027.
Continued progress against high strikeout rates would strengthen that case; otherwise he remains a flexible depth piece who has already demonstrated 20-home-run power in consecutive Triple-A seasons.
In short, the Guardians used a routine transaction-log move to retain a toolsy, power-hitting infielder who has earned the opportunity after years of steady production in the minors.
Cleveland has made the ALCS in two of the last three seasons.
