The Cleveland Guardians have a lot of moving parts throughout the lineup heading into 2026 as the team looks to put more runs on the board in an effort to three-peat as AL Central champions. The pillars of Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan will lead the charge again, but there are plenty of opportunities around those two for many young hitters to take a major step forward and solidify a featured role in this offense.
While this season very much hinges on the successes or failures of a lot of these young bats, there are still a few veterans in place to make sure this train stays on the tracks. One of those veterans was recently given some major recognition for the work he has done throughout his career.
In a recent article for ESPN, Buster Olney listed his top ten catchers in baseball. While it was no surprise that he had Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners at No. 1, he gave Guardians backup catcher Austin Hedges a nod among his honorable mentions due to his stellar defense.
“Like [Patrick] Bailey, Hedges doesn’t provide a lot of offense, but he excels in his defense,” Olney wrote.
Olney clearly values defense, as he had San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey ranked fourth over 30-homer guys like Shea Langeliers and Hunter Goodman despite posting a .602 OPS last season. Hedges has been arguably the worst hitter in baseball over the past decade, but there’s a reason teams keep signing him with no hesitation.
He was a free agent this offseason, but the Guardians wasted no time bringing him back after a .527 OPS season, which was a solid boost from the paltry .422 OPS he posted in 2024. His work behind the dish and with the pitching staff is invaluable on this roster, and he’s a perfect veteran to have in the room with Bo Naylor, who continues to improve in his own right.
Hedges is one of the true constants on this roster. With so much uncertainty in the lineup and the pitching staff, everyone knows this team can hang its hat on the stellar defense Hedges brings.
NEXT: Steven Kwan Will Reportedly Play New Position In Spring Training
