The Cleveland Guardians had to call up infield prospect Juan Brito earlier this week on the heels of Gabriel Arias’ hamstring injury. As it happens with every prospect, no one knows how well they will adapt to life in the majors.
Brito, however, has been very impressive in his first two games as a major leaguer. On Wednesday, the talented infielder went 2-for-4 with a double, a run, and an RBI in the Guardians’ 10-2 win over the Kansas City Royals.
It seems that his arrival has revitalized the bottom of Cleveland’s lineup. He has logged four hits and two doubles already, and is hitting a cool .500 in the ridiculously small sample.
Brito has some defensive questions attached to his game, but few evaluators have put his ability to hit in doubt. He had a 115 wRC+ in Triple-A last year and was off to a solid start this time around, too, with a 124 wRC+ in nine games at Columbus.
He was hitting .314 and had twice as many walks (six) as strikeouts (three), which is impressive. It’s been established that Brito can hit. Now, will he have a place in the everyday lineup when Arias returns from his injury in 4-8 weeks and when Travis Bazzana is inevitably called up?
That’s the million-dollar question.
It’s no secret that Bazzana, a former No. 1 draft pick and one of the top prospects in the game, is the second baseman of the future in Cleveland.
Bazzana needs to win a promotion on the field, though, as his 90 wRC+ in Triple-A as of Wednesday afternoon isn’t even league-average. He is widely expected to get hot soon, though, as the skills are top-notch.
What can the Guardians do when Arias, Bazzana, and Brito are all healthy and in the majors? Well, one of them won’t have a spot on the roster, that’s for sure, unless an unexpected player is taken off the roster.
Arias, who boasts a 96 wRC+, was starting to find his groove when he went down with the injury. If Brito is still hitting when Arias returns, however, the latter could find himself out of the roster or in a lesser role.
Brito can play the outfield corners and third base, but those spots are blocked, too. He will need to keep up his torrid pace for at least a few weeks to earn his place on the roster and in the lineup.
Of the three players, Bazzana will have the longest leash. That’s a fact. However, anything can happen in this suddenly fascinating race for playing time.
NEXT: Something Special Is Brewing With Guardians Rotation
