About four days ago, we last checked on Cleveland Guardians infielder Gabriel Arias and his season up until that point. He was one of the worst hitters in the lineup, with a .063 batting average and a -46 wRC+.
What a difference a few days make when the sample is so small, as it is right now in the still nascent season. Arias has now homered in consecutive games, and his wRC+ is already up to a much more decent 86.
He went yard on Wednesday in the finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and also on Friday night, in the home opener vs. the Chicago Cubs. Both games resulted in wins for the Guardians, who are now 5-3 to open the season.
CLE – Gabriel Arias Solo HR (2)
📏 358 ft | 💨 101.9 mph | 📐 27°
⚾️ 88.1 mph slider (CHC – RHP Hunter Harvey)
🏟️ Out in 16/30 MLB parksCHC (1) @ CLE (2)
🔻 7th#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/Gaq6dalhH1— MLB Home Runs (@MLBHRs_) April 3, 2026
The concern with Arias is not about skill. If he weren’t talented, the Guardians wouldn’t have given him several years to establish himself as a major league regular. It’s all about consistency.
Last year, Arias finished with a 77 wRC+, and the last time he was over 80 was in 2022, in a 16-game cameo as a rookie, when he finished with a 92 mark. It’s painful to remember that he opened last season with a 115 wRC+ in the first month, then his performance plummeted again.
Right now, Arias is playing for more than just pride. He is likely playing for a job in Cleveland.
That’s right: with Travis Bazzana and Juan Brito playing well in Triple-A, Arias will need to be much better to retain his position on the team. The choice will likely be made between him and Brayan Rocchio when the 2024 No. 1 pick comes, and right now, Arias is still the main candidate to be demoted to a lesser role.
He still can do something to avoid that fate, though. More performances like Wednesday’s and Friday’s, of course, will help. If he becomes an above-average hitter for a sustained period, it will be hard for the Guardians to take him out of an everyday role, because they just don’t have many of those.
NEXT: Chase DeLauter Made MLB History In Big Win Over Cubs
