The Cleveland Guardians were one of the hottest – if not the hottest – teams to close out the season. They rallied from a 15.5-game deficit to win the AL Central, the largest deficit any team has overcome to win its division in MLB history.
Of course, none of that would’ve been possible without the guys who stepped up when it mattered the most. As shown by Guardians Prospective on X, the Guardians had several heroes who broke out from 9/1/25 until the end of the campaign:
Jose Ramirez had a wRC+ of 145 and a fWAR of 1.3 in 27 games. Rookie C.J. Kayfus also did his job in 20 games, logging a wRC+ of 145 and a fWAR of 0.4. Last but not least, catchers Bo Naylor (19 games) and Austin Hedges (12 games) also stepped up big time, logging a wRC+ of 136 and 132, and a fWAR of 0.7 and 0.5, respectively.
Cleveland #Guardians position players that ended the 2025 year strong from 9/1/25 until the end of the season.
Jose Ramirez (27 games)
wRC+ 145
fWAR 1.3C.J. Kayfus (20 Games)
wRC+ 145
fWAR 0.4Bo Naylor (19 Games)
wRC+ 136
fWAR 0.7Austin Hedges (12 Games)
wRC+ 132
fWAR 0.5— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) November 30, 2025
While it’s normal to read Jose Ramirez’s name on this type of list, it’s certainly nice to find out that one of the rookies also made the cut. Kayfus made a huge impact as soon as he was called up, and he should have a big role on this team for years to come. He can play at both first base and the outfield, and while he needs to be more disciplined at the plate, the potential is most definitely there.
As for the catchers, Naylor turned the page with a different approach at the plate late in the season. Hopefully, he’ll keep the momentum going after a slow start last season.
NEXT: Stats Show How Dominant Jose Ramirez Is Among MLB Third Basemen
