On May 31, 2025, the Cleveland Guardians announced the activation of David Fry from the 60‑day injured list, finally ending the long rehab stretch that began after he underwent right elbow UCL revision surgery in November 2024. The 29‑year‑old, who helped steer Cleveland to the ALCS with clutch hits, will now wear the designated‑hitter uniform, as doctors still prohibit him from throwing.
Fry’s Road to Recovery
Fry’s 2024 campaign was a breakout year. He earned an All‑Star nod, posted a .263 average, belted 14 home runs and drove in 51 runs over 122 games. In the postseason, his .286 average, two homers and eight RBIs were instrumental, highlighted by a two‑run, 10th‑inning blast in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Yankees.
The elbow surgery that cut his season short was a Tommy John revision – essentially a second UCL reconstruction – and it required an extended timeline. After the November operation, Fry spent the winter rehabbing at the team’s Arizona Complex League facility, then moved up to Double‑A Akron and Triple‑A Columbus for a series of graded assignments. Each step was designed to test throwing mechanics and stamina, but once the elbow cleared, the Guardians decided his value would be maximized at the plate.
Manager Stephen Vogt summed up the mood in the clubhouse: “David walking back in the building put a smile on everybody’s face. Not only for the player he is – obviously, we know how he can help us in the batter’s box – but also for the person that he is, the leader on this team, the heart of this clubhouse.” While the DH role limits his defensive impact, Fry’s experience catching, playing first base, corner infield and outfield means the club still has options if he regains his arm later.
Roster Ripple Effects
Fry’s promotion forced the Guardians to make a chain of moves to stay under the 40‑man limit. Right‑hander Cody Bolton was designated for assignment, clearing a spot for the returning slugger. Outfielder Lane Thomas, who has been battling a sore right foot, was placed on the 10‑day IL retroactive to May 27 because of plantar fasciitis. Thomas, currently hitting .119 with three RBIs in 17 games, had already missed time earlier after a wrist bone bruise from a beanball in April.
On the pitching side, right‑hander Andrew Walters landed on the 15‑day IL with a right lat strain after just two appearances at Triple‑A Columbus. To fill the void, the club called up right‑hander Nic Enright from Columbus, giving Cleveland a fresh arm for the upcoming stretch of games.
The roster shuffle also reshapes the Guardians’ lineup. With Fry limited to DH duties, the team can still slot a defensive replacement at catcher or a corner spot, but the flexibility he offered all season – a rare catcher who could also man first, third or the outfield – is now absent. That could push manager Vogt to rely more on other utility players or to experiment with a traditional DH slot in the batting order.
From a strategic viewpoint, Fry’s return adds a right‑handed power bat to a lineup that struggled early in the season. His ability to drive the ball to all fields offsets the loss of some defensive depth, and his veteran presence may boost younger players who have watched his postseason heroics.
As the Guardians look ahead to a packed June schedule, the combination of Fry’s bat, Enright’s fresh arm, and the eventual return of Thomas from foot injury could give Cleveland the depth it needs to stay competitive in the tough AL Central. The next few weeks will reveal whether Fry can translate his rehab success into consistent offensive production and whether the roster adjustments pay off on the field.
