Insider Reveals Big Concern About David Fry’s Role

The Cleveland Guardians just got one of their fan favorites and best players back.

David Fry made his return from reconstructive elbow surgery on Sunday in front of an excited crowd at Progressive Field.

He almost homered in his first plate appearance of the season as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning, but he slightly missed it.

The crowd loved every single minute of it, and he gushed about all the support he got.

However, as much as getting him back will provide an emotional boost and some offensive prowess to this team, it might also create a great problem for manager Stephen Vogt.

At least, that’s how Joe Noga of Cleveland.com feels.

In the latest edition of the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, Noga argued that Fry shouldn’t replace Carlos Santana or Kyle Manzardo, both of whom have been doing an outstanding job in his absence:

Of course, Fry won’t play the field this season because of his recovery, but there will only be so many at-bats available for three players and two positions (first base and designated hitter):

“[David Fry] could start a game behind the plate or in the outfield and then move to first base or third base and play two to three different positions in a game depending on what moves Vogt wanted to make, but Kyle Manzardo and Carlos Santana have really been holding things down pretty much throughout the first couple months of the season,” Noga said. “These are two guys who were handling the designated hitter role capably. Finding at bats for Fry might be difficult, at least in the early going.”

Fry’s versatility made him an invaluable player for Vogt last season, but now that he’s not going to be able to play wherever the manager needs him, depending on the situation, he won’t provide the same type of value.

Manzardo has excelled with 10 home runs and 28 RBI this season, while Santana is currently riding an 11-game hitting streak in which he’s hit over .400.

Then again, Fry can give this team a big boost against left-handed pitching.

Even so, this is the best kind of problem and dilemma any team could have.