CLEVELAND — The spring training battle to be Cleveland’s opening-day shortstop is over.
Infielders Brayan Rocchio and Gabriel Arias were both informed Friday that they have made the Guardians’ roster with Rocchio earning the “bulk of the reps” at short while Arias’ ability to play in the outfield helped him secure a utility spot.
Chris Antonetti, president of baseball operations, also confirmed catcher David Fry and pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Tyler Beede have made the roster and that the club reassigned lefty Anthony Gose and utility man Daniel Schneemann to minor league camp.
Antonetti also said utility-man-turned-center-fielder Tyler Freeman has made the club, leaving the outfield crowded and the status of several players uncertain. Myles Straw’s spot on the roster is not guaranteed at the moment. The Gold Glove center fielder signed a five-year, $25 million contract in April 2022, but has a minor league option remaining and could be outrighted to Triple-A if he first clears waivers.
Estevan Florial, acquired from the Yankees in a trade for Cody Morris, is out of options, which could give him leverage for the final spot in the outfield. Vogt said Floreal’s ability to move around the outfield is appealing.
“We’ve seen the quality of his work and the potential for some power there,” Vogt said. “We still have some decisions to make. We still have a few more days to work through some things, but overall, I’ve enjoyed getting to know Flo and watching him work.”
Rookie Chase DeLauter, who was never technically in major league camp despite belting four home runs and hitting .520 in 25 at-bats, will not appear in any more big league exhibition games, manager Stephen Vogt said.
“We couldn’t be more excited about what Chase showed this spring,” Vogt said. “The future for him is very bright. Very impressed with the spring that Chase had. It was really fun to get to know the kid and watch him work.”
Rocchio and Arias have been the focus of the shortstop battle since camp opened, with Rocchio, the No. 91 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, surging ahead in the last two weeks.
“The beauty of having both of them on the team is they both bring defensive versatility, but our goal at the beginning of the season is that Brayan takes the bulk of reps at shortstop.”
Arias’ ability to play the outfield and the fact that he is a right-handed hitter helped secure his spot on the roster, according to Vogt.
“When you talk about Gabby, you’re talking about one of the more talented players, young players in the game and his ability to move all over the diamond is definitely going to be an asset for us,” Vogt said. “Being able to use him at all the positions I think is going to be a huge benefit for the team and for Gabby as well.”
Fry, a versatile player who logged innings in the outfield and at first base last season, will be the third catcher on the roster behind Bo Naylor and Austin Hedges.
“We feel like he could start games behind the plate,” Vogt said. “He could come into games and catch as well as impact the roster at first base, corner, outfield, and possibly even some third base. Versatility seems to be the theme of what we’re talking about with this roster and David definitely adds to that.”
Either Carrasco or Beede will fill the opening as the No. 5 starter created when Gavin Williams was sidelined with a sore elbow earlier in camp. He said Beede’s stuff has played really well in camp.
“He has four or five pitches that he can use in his arsenal at any time,” Antonetti said. “We’ve seen him be very efficient. We’ve seen him attack the zone, we’ve seen him finish hitters. Really excited about the repertoire that Tyler has worked on and he’s just shown us a lot of good things this spring.”
Antonetti said Carrasco was clear from the beginning that Cleveland was the place where he wanted to try to continue pitching.
“I don’t think anyone is surprised that Carlos came out and did exactly that,” Antonetti said. “He did it with the work that he puts in every day to make himself the best pitcher he could be. And he also continues to be an extraordinary teammate and leader in the clubhouse. We feel overall we’re a better team both on the field and the clubhouse with Carlos Carrasco as part of it.”
Antonetti said Gose, who missed last season after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his left elbow, has made progress and has attacked his rehab assignments, positioning himself to help the club at some point this year.
“We just made the determination that it won’t be for the opening day roster, but Anthony deserves a ton of credit for all of the work he’s put in to get himself to this point,” Antonetti said.
Antonetti called Schneemann one of the highlights of camp.
“He’s tried to help make himself a better player and be the best teammate he possibly could be,” Antonetti said. “He impacted a lot of games, and it’s another guy we think will help us at some point this year, just not opening day.”
