The Austin Hedges story keeps getting better.
We already know he is hitting .350 with an .841 OPS through the first three weeks of the season, putting together a stretch that have some comparing him to Victor Martinez in the Guardians record books. Hedges has been hitting .313 since September 1st of last season, hinting that something has genuinely changed in his approach at the plate.
But Mason Horodyski of WEWS added a layer to the Hedges conversation that goes well beyond the offensive numbers.
“The Guardians are now 6-0 when Austin Hedges catches. Cleveland has outscored opponents a combined 37-13 runs in those games,” Horodyski posted on X.
The #Guardians are now 6-0 when Austin Hedges catches.
Cleveland has outscored opponents a combined 37-13 runs in those games #GuardsBall x @WEWS
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) April 14, 2026
When Hedges is behind the plate, the Guardians have been the best version of themselves on both sides of the ball. The pitching staff has been dominant, the offense has scored runs in bunches, and the team has not dropped a single game.
Nobody is suggesting that Hedges is solely responsible for six wins by himself. Baseball is a team sport, and a 6-0 record in any sample is going to involve contributions from every corner of the roster. The starting pitchers have to execute. The offense has to produce. The bullpen has to hold leads.
But catchers are the one position in baseball where the impact on team performance is most difficult to measure and most frequently underestimated. The pitch framing. The game calling. The way a catcher manages a pitching staff through difficult stretches and keeps an arm from unraveling when a hitter makes good contact.
His offensive contribution has been an unexpected bonus that nobody realistically anticipated heading into the season. Through 20 at-bats this season, Hedges is slashing .350/.391/.450 with a 141 OPS.
The game management element and the intangible leadership that keeps pitchers focused was the primary reason Cleveland wanted him back. What the 6-0 record shows is that the full package is on display right now. The bat is producing at a level nobody predicted. The defense and game calling are performing at the standard everyone expected. And the results on the field speak for themselves.
NEXT: Former GM Sees Guardians Outfielder As A 'Perennial All-Star'
