The Cleveland Guardians made a bit of a controversial decision to start the offseason. The decision to bring back Austin Hedges was met with mixed reviews, as this team clearly needed more firepower on offense.
Nevertheless, he brings more than that to the table. That’s why Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report gave this team a B grade for this move:
“Hedges is one of the worst hitters to ever have a lasting career in MLB, but he’s also one of the best receivers and game-callers in recent memory. He’s also been a clubhouse leader in Cleveland, so to focus on his bat is to miss the point,” Rymer wrote.
Hedges is one of Stephen Vogt’s guys. He’s often called him the best defensive catcher in baseball, and, truth be told, it might be true. Otherwise, there’s simply no way that such a subpar hitter would’ve had such a long career in professional baseball.
The Guardians nearly turned to him when Bo Naylor was struggling at both calling the game and hitting, yet Vogt ultimately chose to side with the youngster. Now, prospect Cooper Ingle will put plenty of pressure on Naylor to be at his best, all while Hedges is there not only as a leader in the clubhouse but also as a mentor for both of them.
Ingle seems to have the highest upside there, and he should take the reins of the backstop position from Naylor at some point in the near future. That being said, he’s not ready yet, and this type of friendly competition should definitely bring the best out of this group.
Catchers have never been known for their offensive prowess, and expecting any of them to be Buster Posey or Salvador Perez might be a little too much to ask. But if they can get anything from them on offense, this team can be much better.
NEXT: Iconic Guardians Play Lands On Impressive MLB List
