The Cleveland Guardians made their first major move of the off-season this week, bringing back their backup catcher Austin Hedges on a one-year deal.
Many people overlook the contributions of a backup catcher, but in the specific case of Hedges, he is very important for the clubhouse and the pitching staff.
Yes, he might not be a star offensively (far from it, actually) but he is a master of his craft behind the plate.
The player is ecstatic after learning he is going to return to a place that feels like home for him and his family.
“I feel like a Cleveland guy … It feels like home to me.” – Austin Hedges,” Guardians on SI posted on X.
"I feel like a Cleveland guy … It feels like home to me." – Austin Hedges.#Guardians | #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/LZGUXFyQsL
— Cleveland Guardians On SI (@GuardiansOnSI) November 8, 2024
Hedges stated that he ‘loves’ being in Cleveland and he feels the love from everybody surrounding the organization, from staffers to teammates and fans.
It’s obviously not his first rodeo in the city: he has built his own story in Cleveland and feels happy to stay and keep helping an up-and-coming franchise achieve its objectives.
Hedges will continue to play a bit more than the average backup, especially if Bo Naylor keeps struggling offensively.
In 2024, Hedges slashed .152/.203/.220 with a .423 OPS.
Those are extremely disappointing numbers, but Naylor wasn’t much better and Hedges did contribute five (5) Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and 7.7 Framing Runs.
He is a defensive asset, which is why he continually finds his way into the lineup despite a flat-out bad offensive output.
It might not seem like it, but Hedges is a key cog on the Guardians.
NEXT: Guardians Left Outside The Top Five In Controversial MLB Network Ranking
