The Cleveland Guardians’ offense has been disappointing all season outside of Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan having All-Star campaigns, but the team has picked it up of late and is now back in the thick of the American League playoff race.
While Ramirez and Kwan have maintained their strong starts, it’s one Guardians shortstop who one analyst called the team’s “biggest surprise” this season.
Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto recently wrote that the biggest surprise during Cleveland’s rise back to playoff contention has been shortstop Brayan Rocchio.
“Brayan Rocchio,” Pluto answered when asked who has been the biggest surprise during the Guardians’ rise. “Since being recalled from the minors, Rocchio is hitting .283 (.770 OPS). He has played a lot of second base and looked comfortable. Andres Gimenez was a career shortstop until he moved to second base in 2022. He became an elite defender at that position. Rocchio may not turn into a Gold Glover, but he can be excellent at second base. Perhaps Gabriel Arias and Rocchio can take care of shortstop and second base, at least for this season. Arias is batting .268 (.807 OPS) since returning from the injured list last month.”
Rocchio was sent down after a disastrous start, but since being recalled on July 1st, his OPS has risen from a ghastly .424 to an almost-passable .600 in just over a month.
It’s no coincidence that Rocchio and Gabriel Arias stepping up their games has coincided with the Guardians going on a run to put themselves back in the mix to win the AL Central.
At just 24 years old, Rocchio could still be this team’s long-term solution at shortstop, and if he keeps playing like he has been lately, that idea could become a reality.
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