BEAVER TOWNSHIP — With Cleveland Guardians pitchers and catchers set to report for spring training on Valentine’s Day, and the full squad due at their Goodyear, AZ training facility by February 19, that means Guardians radio broadcaster Jim Rosenhaus is also gearing up for his upcoming broadcast schedule.

With MLB’s lockout last year curtailing preseason activities and speaking engagements, the upbeat Rosenhaus returned to the Mahoning Valley on Monday for the first time since 2021 to give the Curbstone Coaches a glimpse of what they might expect to see from last season’s Central Division champions.

“The two big offseason moves were that the Guardians signed Josh Bell to a free agent contract, a big power-hitting first baseman-DH guy,” Rosenhaus said. “It was such a fun year last year but if you look at it, taking a step back, they did lack power so he will provide power plus they added catcher Mike Zunino.

“They are in this kind of spot right now where their prospect catcher, their top prospect is Bo Naylor. I don’t know if he’s quite ready to be a 120-game catching in the big leagues guy yet. They think he will be, at some point, but not quite yet so they brought in [Mike] Zunino who is a good, veteran catcher. He handles a staff well and by the way, hit 33 home runs a couple of years ago so if he is healthy, which he was not last year and that is kind of what they mine for, those hidden gems, so to speak, he could really be a big asset for the team both offensively and defensively.”

Manager Terry Francona returns for his 11th season at the helm after earning his third ‘Manager of the Year’ award – all with Cleveland in 2013, 2016, and last season – after leading the Guardians to the Central Division title by 11 games over the Chicago White Sox

He did so with no less than 17 players – an MLB record for a playoff team – who made their Major League debut. Rosenhaus noted that Francona did a marvelous job of meshing those rookies with the club veterans.

“A couple of things were in play,” Rosenhaus added.

“He [Francona] was back, not to full health but healthy enough to where he made it through a full season for the first time in two years. He felt much better and I think that the young team energized him a little bit.

“It was probably different from a lot of teams he’s had where it wasn’t just a team of him knowing what he had and could manage along those lines. He was figuring out who some of the players were, what he had, and who could perform in good spots and I think that kept him upbeat.”

Of the 1,516 games that Francona has managed for the Cleveland franchise, Rosenhaus noted that a mere 18 had no bearing or meaning on a postseason or pennant run.

Broadcasters always look for interesting facts and informational pieces to present to their listening audience during a game.

Rosenhaus added that last season was the exception, not the norm when looking for those fun facts.

“Last year was easy because it was such a fun year and unexpectedly so,” he stated.

“Things were happening in August and September where the team was playing great, they were in this playoff run so a year like that was pretty easy. Plus, there were new players all over the place so to pick up fresh tidbits, it seemed like you had a new guy making his MLB debut once a week and it was a record for a team making the postseason, which was amazing so it was easy to stay focused, fresh and excited about coming to the ballpark.”

Rosenhaus said this year’s Central Division race should also be interesting.

“The division will be interesting,” he said.

“Everyone has made some changes but I think the Twins and White Sox will still be the two teams that would be the biggest threats. The Royals are still trying to figure it out, they will have a new manager, and the Tigers have a new front office but on paper, I think you would look at Cleveland, Minnesota and Chicago.”

The Guardians open their Cactus League schedule against the Cincinnati Reds on February 25 .

Rosenhaus and partner Tom Hamilton set to broadcast 15 of their 30 spring training contests.

Next Monday, Dan Bertolini, YSU head baseball coach will serve as a guest speaker.