Last week, the Cleveland Guardians lost backup catcher Austin Hedges to an injury that has become, unfortunately, very familiar to him.
He was placed on the seven-day injured list and the Guardians activated Dom Nunez to serve as the backup in Hedges’ absence.
It was Hedges’ fifth concussion of his career, and these injuries shouldn’t be taken lightly.
The backstop suffered the injury in the series against the New York Yankees when he was hit by a backswing from Jazz Chisholm Jr. on June 6.
“There’s always a level of concern with any concussion, especially when it’s as many as Hedgie has experienced. So that’s why we’re being super cautious with this,” Vogt had stated back then.
Fortunately, he improved as the days went by and is now ready to return to the active roster.
The Guardians made it happen with the official roster move, announced on Thursday afternoon.
“Cleveland Guardians transactions: C Austin Hedges activated off the 7-day concussion IL. C Dom Nunez optioned to Columbus,” Guardians Prospective posted on X.
Cleveland #Guardians transactions
C Austin Hedges activated off the 7-day concussion IL
C Dom Nunez optioned to Columbus
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) June 12, 2025
If you are familiar with Hedges’ game, you know he isn’t much of a hitter.
He has cooled off after a decent start to the 2025 campaign and is currently slashing a paltry .113/.217/.283 with three homers, three RBI, and a 43 wRC+ in 61 plate appearances.
The bulk of his value comes behind the plate, where he is an excellent framer, blocker, thrower, and leader.
Pitchers love throwing to Hedges, and he is also a glue guy in the clubhouse.
Nunez played two games and logged two hits in seven at-bats, for a .286 batting average while Hedges was gone.
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