The Cleveland Guardians’ offense hasn’t performed up to standard in 2025, which has been the main reason why the team currently sits three games out of a Wild Card spot in the American League on the heels of a run to the ALCS last season.
The defense has taken a step back as well, but Cleveland is hoping a recent position switch has been the right move long-term for a particular infielder who one insider believes has been thriving since the change.
Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com recently wrote in an article that Brayan Rocchio’s move from shortstop to second base has helped him both on defense and at the dish.
“Moving to second base has, has taken some pressure off [Brayan Rocchio] and, and made him perhaps more aware at the plate, a little more relaxed at the plate,” Hoynes said.
The advanced metrics suggest that Rocchio had taken a step back defensively, as his range was down and the errors were up, but the most notable change has been his production at the plate.
Rocchio has a .775 OPS as a second baseman this season compared to a .548 OPS when he plays shortstop, which is a massive difference that has a big enough sample size to make one believe it’s not just a coincidence.
Rocchio was hitting a paltry .161 at the start of July with a .424 OPS, and if he can sustain the level of production he has exhibited over the past six weeks, he can solidify himself as a foundational part of the team’s future.
It’s clear Rocchio is a much more comfortable hitter than he was a few months ago, and Guardians fans are surely hoping this version of Rocchio is here to stay.
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