Guards Fest returns to Cleveland Jan. 21

CLEVELAND -- The countdown is on until Cleveland’s annual fan fest returns for the first time in three years.

The ninth annual event -- now named Guards Fest -- will be held at Huntington Convention Center on Jan. 21. Season-ticket holders can have exclusive access to the fun from 8:30 a.m. ET until 12:30 p.m., while the general public can funnel in from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at CLEGuardians.com/GuardsFest.

Last week, the Guardians announced the biggest reason that so many fans rush downtown for Guards Fest. There will be 28 players from the 40-man roster in attendance, along with three members of the coaching staff and four alumni. Here’s a look at the full roster:

Players
Gabriel Arias
Josh Bell (morning session only)
Will Benson
Will Brennan
Emmanuel Clase
Xzavion Curry
Enyel De Los Santos
Tyler Freeman
Andrés Giménez
Oscar Gonzalez
Sam Hentges
James Karinchak
Steven Kwan
Bryan Lavastida
Angel Martinez
Triston McKenzie
Eli Morgan
Cody Morris
Bo Naylor
Josh Naylor
Jhonkensy Noel
Richie Palacios
Brayan Rocchio
Amed Rosario
Nick Sandlin
Myles Straw
Trevor Stephan
George Valera

Coaches
Terry Francona
Chris Valaika
Carl Willis

Alumni
Brian Anderson
Paul Assenmacher
Sam McDowell
Charlie Nagy

Anyone who has attended Cleveland’s fan fest in the past can expect to see familiar events like autograph and photo sessions (additional tickets required), Gold Glove photo opportunities (additional tickets required), player appearances on the main stage, baseball skills stations, and run-ins with Slider and the Hot Dogs. But this year, fans will have a new competition to enter.

Giménez, who enjoys art in his spare time, will be joining Jonathan Hrusovsky and Hrusovsky Custom Kicks to hold a cleat design competition. Fans will be able to submit their own sketch and the winner will have the design replicated by Hrusovsky Custom Kicks for Giménez to wear during Spring Training. The winner will also get their own pair of cleats with their design.

For more information, visit CLEGuardians.com/GuardsFest.