David Fry -- General News

David Fry returned to catching for the Cleveland Guardians in a spring training game against Oakland on Sunday, marking his first appearance behind the plate since July 23, 2024. The catcher had undergone Tommy John surgery on his right elbow during the 2024-25 offseason and additionally required facial fracture surgery after being struck by a 99.1 mph fastball in September. Though he made his 2025 debut on June 1, Fry was limited to hitting duties while continuing his post-surgical throwing program.

In Sunday's 6-0 Guardians victory, Fry caught three pitchers—Parker Messick, Codi Heuer, and Will Dion—over five innings. The trio allowed just one hit and four walks. Fry displayed eagerness to resume full catching duties, attempting a back-pick of A's infielder Jeff McNeil in the second inning. Manager Stephen Vogt commended Fry's physical readiness, stating his arm looked "incredible" with strong, accurate throws between innings. Fry, who also underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018 while in college, expressed relief at being able to throw without pain concerns. "Two TJs and a broken face, and I get to go back out there and catch and throw," he said.

David Fry hit a home run in a recent baseball game, with the video clip published by ESPN on May 5, 2026. The content appears to be part of ESPN's 'The Latest' highlight section, which features recent significant plays across multiple sports including basketball and hockey. While the specific game context and opposing team are not detailed in the provided content, the home run by Fry was deemed noteworthy enough for ESPN to feature in their video highlights. The clip was published at 02:50:20 UTC.

David Fry made his long-awaited return to catching for the Cleveland Guardians in spring training against the Athletics on Sunday, approximately 18 months after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Fry's last game catching was June 23, 2024, when he suffered right elbow inflammation in a game against Toronto. This marks his second Tommy John surgery, the first occurring during his college career. In 2024, prior to the injury, Fry had emerged as a valuable member of the Guardians, posting All-Star level performance in the first half of the season while providing versatility across multiple positions including outfield, infield, and backup catcher. During Sunday's spring training appearance, Fry expressed enthusiasm about returning to the catching position, stating it was "so much fun" after his rehabilitation. He emphasized his eagerness to throw the ball again, noting he did not throw in any game during the previous season. Manager Stephen Vogt praised Fry's performance, highlighting that his throwdowns between innings were "strong and on the money" and noting he successfully executed a pickoff attempt. Vogt characterized it as "a really special day for David" given the length of his road back to health.

David Fry connected on a solo home run to left field during the Guardians' game on April 25, 2026, in the top of the 7th inning. The home run reduced Cleveland's deficit to 4-2. The blast was hit hard and deep, with Fry getting full contact on the pitch. This marked Fry's first home run of the 2026 season.