Guardians activate Sabrowski

Edmonton Prospects alum Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.) was activated from the 60-day injured list by the Cleveland Guardians on Friday. Photo: X/Bally Sports Cleveland

June 28, 2025

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

The Cleveland Guardians activated left-hander Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.) from the 60-day injured list on Friday.

He had been sidelined since spring training with left elbow inflammation.

The Guardians wasted no time in using Sabrowski, calling on him to pitch the ninth inning in their 5-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Canuck southpaw was sharp, striking out two batters and retiring the side in order. That extended his streak of scoreless regular season outings with the Guardians to nine, dating back to the end of last season.

In total, in nine regular season big league appearances, Sabrowski boasts a 0.00 ERA and has fanned 21 batters in 13 2/3 innings.

The 27-year-old lefty also appeared in five postseason contests for the Guardians last year and posted a 1.69 ERA in 5 1/3 innings.

Sabrowski was shelved by elbow inflammation early in spring training. The Guardians have treated the injury very cautiously, as the Canadian lefty has already undergone two Tommy John surgeries.

Sabrowski posted a 6.00 ERA in nine minor league rehab appearances with the ACL Guardians, double-A Akron RubberDucks and triple-A Columbus Clippers before he was activated.

Born in 1997, Sabrowski honed his skills with the Edmonton Prospects Academy before embarking on a collegiate career. He was a two-way player for Cisco Junior College and Cloud County Community College before he was selected in the 14th round of the 2018 MLB draft by the San Diego Padres.

After receiving a $125,000 signing bonus, Sabrowski would focus on pitching in the Padres’ organization. Unfortunately, before he threw his first professional pitch in a game he was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery.

The COVID-19 pandemic further delayed his pro debut until 2021 when he posted a 2-0 record and a 1.86 ERA in eight games (three starts) with the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps.

Following that season, he was selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Guardians. But he’d miss the entire 2022 campaign after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery. He returned midway through the 2023 season to go 4-0 with a 2.49 ERA in 20 relief appearances in High-A for the Guardians.

That set the stage for overpowering 2024 season in which he went a combined 8-3 with 79 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings in double-A and triple-A prior to receiving his first big league call-up on August 28.

Sabrowski returns to a strong Guardians’ bullpen that also includes fellow Canadian Cade Smith (Abbotsford, B.C.).