2024 Guardians Spring Training Players Of The Game: Game 16

Cleveland's Jhonkensy Noel, Steven Kwan, Anthony Banda, and Jack Leftwich each performed well in the team's 5-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

The Cleveland Guardians suffered their 10th 2024 Cactus League loss with a 5-3 defeat to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday afternoon.

With 90 players representing the Guardians during spring training (40-man roster, 22 non-roster invitees, and 28 depth camp players), each game’s roster will vary.

Based on Cleveland’s roster for Sunday’s game and their performances in the contest, here are four Players of the Game.

Jhonkensy Noel, 1B

The Guardians’ 29th-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline made the most of his only plate appearance of the day.

With two outs in the top of the ninth inning, the 22-year-old hit an RBI double to cut Cleveland’s deficit to 5-3. This hit gave Noel his third double and first RBI of the spring.

Mar 3, 2024; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Cleveland Guardians outfielder Jhonkensy Noel (78) hits a single against the Chicago Cubs in the third inning at Sloan Park / © Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Steven Kwan, DH

The Guardians’ mainstay leadoff hitter drove in the team’s first run of the day.

With one out in the top of the eighth inning, Kwan hit an RBI single to trim Cincinnati’s lead to 5-1. This hit gave the 26-year-old his first RBI of the spring.

Anthony Banda, LHP

The 30-year-old non-roster invitee pitched a perfect inning in his fifth relief appearance of the spring.

Banda needed just three pitches to get through the bottom of the seventh inning, forcing a pair of flyouts and a lineout.

Jack Leftwich, RHP

The 25-year-old prospect continued his stellar spring with another scoreless, hitless relief appearance.

After allowing a leadoff single, Leftwich retired the next three hitters he faced, which included a strikeout.

The right-hander has made four relief appearances so far this spring, allowing one hit and one walk and throwing a pair of strikeouts in 3.1 scoreless innings of work.

Up next, Cleveland will face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. EST.