The Cleveland Guardians picked up a high-profile guest in the booth ahead of their game against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field, and he did not hold back on his expectations for the club. Mike Mizanin, the WWE Superstar known to fans everywhere as The Miz, grew up in nearby Parma and has never hidden his love for Cleveland sports, from throwing out a ceremonial first pitch at Progressive Field to showing up on Browns programming during the offseason. This time, he joined the Guardians broadcast to talk baseball, and what he had to say went well beyond casual fan optimism. Sitting alongside the crew, Mizanin made it clear he sees something real building in Cleveland.
He believes the team can make the World Series.
“You know what I love most? It feels like a new crop. It feels like a new wave of talent. There’s nobody and I mean nobody that does a better job at developing talent than the Cleveland Guardians. It’s been unreal, it’s been unbelievable. I think they do have the talent, they do have what it takes to not only go to the playoffs, but go to the World Series. We just need to figure out a way, when there is elite pitching, to hit off of them,” Mizanin said.
Mizanin’s praise for player development is not just a celebrity guest saying something nice on camera. Cleveland has leaned on its farm system to build the current roster from the ground up, and the results have shown up in real time this season. A young rotation anchored by Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, Parker Messick and Joey Cantillo has taken real steps forward, with Messick in particular pushing his way into early rookie of the year conversations. That is the exact wave of talent Mizanin was referencing, and it lines up with what evaluators around the league have said about Cleveland’s ability to churn out contributors year after year.
Cleveland has had trouble at times scoring against the top arms in the league, and that has been the difference in close games throughout the season.
The Guardians still have plenty of season left to improve offensively, but the belief from Cleveland’s biggest celebrity fan is already there. If this group can find a way to hit against elite pitching down the stretch, Mizanin might be looking at the World Series he already sees coming.
NEXT: Insider Reveals Which Guardians Player Has Most Potential
