CLEVELAND — All-Star starting pitcher Foster Griffin is scheduled to make his Guardians debut on Thursday, Aug. 6, against the New York Mets at Progressive Field, manager Stephen Vogt said.
The Guardians acquired the left-handed Griffin from the Washington Nationals shortly before the MLB trade deadline on Monday, Aug. 3. In return, Cleveland sent pitchers Will Dion, Josh Hartle, Kendeglys Virguez and outfielder Nick Mitchell to Washington.
“The year he’s having, All-Star, one of the best starters in the game, and to add him with our group of starters that we already have and to work with [catchers Austin Hedges and Patrick Bailey] and our pitching coaches, [my advice to him is] keep doing what you’ve been doing all year,” Vogt said of Griffin. “I know you got a different uniform on, but keep pitching. I’m excited to watch him pitch. I’ve never really seen him pitch a whole lot, so it’s going to be fun.”
Foster Griffin stats in 2026 MLB season
Griffin throws seven pitches. He spent three years playing in Japan (2023-25), when he added a splitter, sinker and sweeper to his fastball, cutter, curveball and changeup, he said.
“This would be probably my second full year with that full arsenal,” Griffin said. “… Having a deep mix like that definitely helps me understand the pitching aspect of knowing you need to get a guy out more than one way, especially as a starter.”
The versatility has served the 31-year-old Griffin well. He went 12-3 in 22 starts with the Nationals, posting a 3.06 ERA. He allowed 109 hits, walked 30 and struck 116 in 129⅓ innings in Washington. He earned the first All-Star nod of his career earlier this season.
Foster Griffin entered MLB as a Royals draft pick
Griffin said his journey from MLB to Japan and back to MLB with the Nationals and now Guardians in 2026 has been “a whirlwind” for him.
“I feel like I haven’t had a whole lot of time yet just to kind of sit back and process it,” Griffin added. “Maybe that’ll be in the offseason, just because right now I’m just kind of focused on the craft and what we’re doing right now. Especially at this point in time, [I’m] trying to help this team win the division more than anything.”
In addition to the Nationals, Griffin previously played for the Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays. The Royals picked him in the first round (28th overall) of the 2014 MLB Draft.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: When will All-Star pitcher Foster Griffin make his Guardians debut?
Reporting by Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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By Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
