The Cleveland Guardians won’t have a lot of power in their lineup to rely on this season.
Their defense, however, could make all the difference.
At least, that’s how Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com feels.
In his latest column, the renowned analyst talked about how losing Andres Gimenez might be a big concern on defense for the Guardians:
“An underrated part of the Guardians’ game last year was their defense. They finished second in the big leagues, according to the Fielding Bible, in defensive runs saved. Gimenez, traded to Toronto at the winter meetings in December, was a big part of that. He not only played excellent defense at second base, but he was a master at turning relay throws into outs at home with his strong and accurate arm,” Hoynes said.
Of course, the Guardians will have several options to choose from as their replacement.
While none of them might be able to reach Gimenez’s defensive level, they could all pose more of an offensive threat, as Gimenez had regressed at the plate over the past couple of years.
Some recent reports state that the team might want to give an extended look to 23-year-old rookie Juan Brito.
Brito has yet to make his Major League Baseball debut, but he had over 650 plate appearances at Triple-A last season.
He hit 21 home runs and 40 doubles for the AAA Columbus Clippers, and while his defense is a bit of a concern, his offense could be a much-needed boost.
The Guardians’ defense should be more than decent everywhere else.
Players like Brayan Rocchio and Jose Ramirez have always been reliable there.
Bo Naylor and Austin Hedges have also made a name for themselves for their consistency behind the plate.
This will be an interesting season, and after an ALCS berth last year, the bar is even higher for this team now.
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