The Cleveland Guardians’ official Opening Day roster has been set, and there aren’t many surprises on it as the cream rose to the top during camp. There were a few battles for roster spots in the starting rotation and in the outfield, but the team is in good hands and well-equipped to make a run at another playoff berth.
Parker Messick made the starting rotation and both Chase DeLauter and CJ Kayfus made the Opening Day roster as well. They are all representative of the young upside sprinkled all throughout the roster, but one insider still believes there is a “big unknown” on the roster outside of the rotation and the outfield.
MLB.com recently put out an article featuring each team’s beat writer discussing each team’s biggest unknown heading into the season. Tim Stebbins believes Cleveland’s is the production from the middle infield.
“GUARDIANS: Middle infield production,” Stebbins wrote. “What will the Guardians get offensively from their middle infield? They’re running it back with shortstop Gabriel Arias and second baseman Brayan Rocchio to start the season, and while the two were a stellar defensive combination in 2025, they logged a .637 and a .630 OPS, respectively. The Guardians are hoping for players such as those two taking a step forward at the plate in ‘26. But they also have second baseman Travis Bazzana (MLB Pipeline’s No. 20 overall prospect) waiting in the wings in Triple-A, vying to make an impact in the Majors.”
Stebbins raises a great point, and that’s that Rocchio and Arias have a potential world-beater breathing down their necks if they don’t hit more than they did last season. If they both continue to produce an OPS under .650, the former first overall pick will be up here much sooner than many expected.
Cleveland’s outfield production was so bad last year that Arias and Rocchio’s lack of production didn’t stand out as much. With some new life in the lineup from Chase DeLauter, CJ Kayfus, George Valera, Rhys Hoskins, and hopefully, an improved Angel Martinez, the middle infield will have to pull its weight too in order to avoid standing out like a sore thumb.
The moment Bazzana was drafted, the clock began ticking on Cleveland’s second basemen. That spot is waiting for him as soon as he is deemed ready, and there realistically isn’t anything Rocchio or Arias can do to fend him off.
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