Brayan Rocchio has spent most of this season as one of the most productive bottom of the order hitters in the American League, which made his recent move to the top of Cleveland’s lineup a notable shift. A reader asked Paul Hoynes directly why the Guardians would disrupt something that was clearly working, and Hoynes explained that the decision had far less to do with Rocchio himself and far more to do with the state of the roster around him.
“The lineup is in crisis mode following the injuries to Ramirez, Martinez and DeLauter. They had to move Rocchio to the top of the lineup because he’s one of the few Guardians who is hitting consistently. Initially, the move to the top of the lineup seemed to unnerve him, but he’s been better the last couple of games,” Hoynes wrote.
Hoynes’ explanation lines up with exactly how Cleveland’s roster has looked since Jose Ramirez, Angel Martinez and Chase DeLauter all landed on the injured list within the same stretch. With three regular contributors out of the lineup at once, Stephen Vogt had limited options for who could credibly hit near the top of the order, and Rocchio’s consistency made him the logical choice even if it meant pulling him away from a role where he had thrived.
Rocchio enters Saturday hitting .273 with 5 home runs, 33 RBI and a .752 OPS, numbers that have only improved since his move up the order.
The early discomfort Hoynes referenced showed up immediately after the switch, but his recent stretch suggests that the adjustment period has already passed, as he has reached base in each of his last several games and continued to provide the steady bat Cleveland has leaned on all season.
Cleveland’s lineup card from Saturday’s game against Houston reflects just how significant the shakeup has been, with Rocchio now hitting third in the order alongside Travis Bazzana and Kyle Manzardo. The Guardians will need that arrangement to keep producing until Ramirez, Martinez and DeLauter are all healthy again, and Rocchio’s recent track record suggests he has settled into the unfamiliar role just in time.
NEXT: Guardians Prospect Set A Franchise Record On Friday
