Guardians' Cooper Ingle enjoys ride ahead of finale vs. Mariners

High-level prospect Cooper Ingle has been living out every baseball player's dream for the Cleveland Guardians in their three-game series against the visiting Seattle Mariners.

The catcher-turned-outfielder made his major league debut Friday in a 3-1 loss, then recorded his first career hit with a two-run single in the fourth inning of a 4-3 win Saturday.

His parents, Steve and Alicia, were in attendance for both games and will be at the ballpark again Sunday, when Ingle is expected to serve as the designated hitter for the third straight day.

Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams (9-4, 3.82 ERA) takes on Mariners righty Emerson Hancock (5-4, 3.60) in the rubber match.

Ingle delivered his first hit by sending a grounder through the right side of the infield, scoring fellow rookie Khalil Watson and Kyle Manzardo. It gave Cleveland a 3-0 lead against Seattle ace Logan Gilbert and prompted a modest "Coop" chant from the fans.

"I mean, the swing was the swing, and I happened to find a hole and kind of just blacked out," said Ingle, who is 1-for-5 with a walk and two RBIs in six plate appearances. "But in my brain, I knew it was a hit, I guess.

"I just kind of mentally freaked out and was pumped and excited to get that first one."

So were his new teammates, including veteran catcher Austin Hedges, who Ingle said "gave me the biggest hug anyone has given me all year. I think that just shows what kind of people are in this clubhouse."

Watson also has made himself at home with the Guardians, driving in runs in five straight games. The right fielder is the fifth player in franchise history with eight RBIs, three extra-base hits and a stolen base in his first nine appearances.

Manager Stephen Vogt expects Watson to remain in the lineup Sunday, despite landing awkwardly on his left wrist while diving for a ball in the sixth inning.

"He said he was good enough to stay in the game," Vogt said. "But we got him out of there, just for precautionary reasons."

Williams will face the Mariners for the fourth time in his career -- all in the past two years -- and is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA against them. He walked a team season-high six batters in a loss in Seattle on March 27, giving up three runs on just two hits in five innings.

Randy Arozarena provided all of the Mariners' offense Saturday with a three-run homer against Shawn Armstrong in the eighth inning. It marked the 13th consecutive game they have not scored more than three runs, tying the team record set in 2015.

Seattle star Julio Rodriguez was struck on the left hand by a 93-mph fastball earlier in the frame but remained on the field after a several minute delay. He added a single off closer Cade Smith in the ninth.

"(Arozarena's home run) felt like a little good sign that something was finally going right for us," Rodriguez said. "Throughout the whole year, there have always been injuries. Always things to manage, and we have managed."

Hancock was rocked in losing his last two outings, allowing 11 runs in 9 1/3 innings against the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox, but has been almost perfect over the last two seasons against Cleveland.

The Guardians have totaled two hits and zero runs in two games against Hancock in 13 innings since the beginning of 2025. His career line against them is 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA in three starts. He threw six hitless innings on March 29 at home.

The 27-year-old was initially slated to work in bulk relief behind Logan Gilbert on Saturday, but manager Dan Wilson opted to give him another day between starts. He last pitched on June 20.

"Extra rest is never bad," Hancock said, smiling. "Not on the body."

--Field Level Media