When discussing the most valuable players on the Cleveland Guardians roster this year, names like Parker Messick, Gavin Williams, Cade Smith, and Chase DeLauter come up most often. They deserve all the praise and recognition because they were all consistently excellent.
One specific player, however, tends to be overlooked in these conversations, and his breakout helped Cleveland take the next step. It’s none other than outfielder Angel Martinez, who had been a mediocre major leaguer since making his debut in 2024, but finally evolved into an above-average hitter this year.
“Angel Martinez. From an offensive standpoint, he’s been your most consistent guy. I know from a pitching standpoint, it’s easy to say Gavin Williams or Parker Messick, Cade Smith, obviously. But in a situation where this team struggled for most of the year to score runs, any time they got a big win or a big hit, it was always Angel Martinez who got it for you,” analyst Chris Oldach said.
Who has been the Guardians MVP this season? @TheOGPAW says Angel Martinez! pic.twitter.com/kjGO4iv38S
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) September 30, 2026
Oldach definitely has a point. Martinez was not only productive, but also clutch. His home runs, singles, and doubles often tied the game or gave the Guardians the lead, and he had a knack for showing up when his teammates needed him most.
The overall offensive output is definitely impressive. No, his 3.1 percent walk rate wasn’t good. In fact, it was among the worst marks in the league, but the fact that he’s not patient doesn’t mean he isn’t good. Quite the contrary, in fact.
Martinez’s .254/.290/.465 line with a 108 wRC+ was, by far, the best output of his career. He also homered a shocking 18 times in just 114 games, adding 11 stolen bases and 62 RBI. Had he played closer to 150 games, he could have racked up 25 round-trippers and 15 thefts, or somewhere close to those totals.
Additionally, Martinez can play all three outfield positions adequately, giving manager Stephen Vogt some needed flexibility when putting together the lineup. He doesn’t have the easy power of Chase DeLauter, or the first-round pedigree of Travis Bazzana, but Martinez is just as important in the 2026 Guardians: he supplies athleticism, versatility, and a power-speed threat.
Remember, Martinez is just 24, so he’s only getting better. He has a chance to be a special player.
NEXT: Insider Reveals How Stephen Vogt Has Evolved As A Manager
