Guardians name Joe Torres assistant pitching coach

The Guardians officially announced their 2022 full coaching staff, with Joe Torres joining the mix as an assistant pitching coach. Torres fills the role left open when Ruben Niebla left the Guardians in October to become the Padres’ new pitching coach.

The 10th overall pick of the 2000 draft, Torres pitched 13 seasons in the Angels (his original team), White Sox, Dodgers, Rangers and Rockies farm systems, plus a year in independent ball. Moving into coaching after his playing career was over, Torres has spent the last five seasons with Cleveland, working as a pitching coach with the organization's rookie ball, low-A and high-A affiliates before working as minor league pitching coordinator for the last two seasons.

The 39-year-old Bronx native now takes his first job on a Major League Baseball staff, joining pitching coach Carl Willis and bullpen coach Brian Sweeney as the Guardians’ pitching brain trust. Torres and new hitting coach Chris Valaika are the only new members to join a largely stable Cleveland staff under returning manager Terry Francona.