Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis keeps an open mind on returning in 2024
KANSAS CITY -- Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis talked to reporters Wednesday morning. He was filling in for manager Terry Francona, who had the morning off.
Willis talked about the progress of rehabbing right-handers Shane Bieber and Triston McKenzie.
Bieber will make his first big league start since July 9 on Friday against the Orioles. McKenzie made a rehab start Tuesday for Class AAA Columbus and is tentatively scheduled to start against the Orioles on Sunday.
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McKenzie’s last big-league start was on June 17. He’s been sidelined with a strained UCL in the right elbow. Bieber is returning from inflammation in the elbow.
Willis said that right-hander Hunter Gaddis will be recalled from Class AAA Columbus to start against the Orioles on Thursday night as the Guards begin their final homestand of the regular season.
They need Gaddis because rookie right-hander Tanner Bibee’s season ended Monday when he was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained right hip.
Willis said the highlight of the season has been the work of rookie starters Bibee, Logan Allen and Gavin Williams. He added that their premature arrival played into the low point of the season because of the injuries to veterans Bieber, McKenzie and Cal Quantrill.
It’s possible that Allen and Williams, with the Guardians all but eliminated from postseason and just nine games left in the season, won’t pitch again this year.
Allen is 7-8 with a 3.81 ERA in 24 starts covering 125 1/3 innings. Williams is 3-5 with a 3.29 ERA in 16 starts in 82 innings. Bibee is 10-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 25 starts covering 142 innings.
Then came the most obvious question. With Francona stepping down at the end of the season, will Willis return next year as pitching coach?
“I’ve been fortunate to be in this game and in Cleveland for an awful long time,” said Willis. “I have a contract for next year and we’re going to keep it open.
“If there’s a new manager, there will be some changes in the staff. That manager should have the opportunity to bring in who he wants, or keep who he wants. I’m going to keep an open mind. I think Chris (Antonetti, president of baseball operations) and Chernie (GM Mike Chernoff) will do the same.”
Willis was hired as Francona’s pitching coach in October of 2017 after Mickey Callaway left to be manager of the Mets. This is his second tour as Cleveland’s big-league pitching coach. He held the same job for manager Eric Wedge from 2003 through 2009.
Before joining the Indians staff in 2003, he worked in Cleveland’s minor league sytsem from 1997 through 2002.
Willis, who has also been the big-league pitching coach in Seattle and Boston, has had five pitchers win the Cy Young Award during his tenure -- CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee and Bieber in Cleveland; Rick Porcello in Boston; and Felix Hernandez in Seattle.
“If everything works out, I’d like to come back,” said Willis, 62. “I love the players. I love the competition. That hasn’t left me. We’ll see what happens.”
Other members of the Francona’s coaching staff include bench coach DeMarlo Hale, first base coach Sandy Alomar, third base coach Mike Sarbaugh, hitting coach Chris Valaika, assistant hitting coach Victor Rodriguez, bullpen coach Rigo Beltran and assistant pitching coach Joe Torres.
The Guardians will consider candidates from inside and outside the organization to find Francona’s replacement. They have not had to a hire a manager since the end of the 2012 season.
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