Brayan Rocchio Has Been Key Piece To Guardians' Resurgence

It’s not just that Rocchio has been hitting, but he’s been coming up clutch with multiple big hits for the Guardians. 

For example, Rocchio gave the Guardians the lead in Cleveland’s series-clinching game against the Chicago White Sox and Saturday with a hard-hit double. 

Despite the boost Rocchio has given this Guardians lineup over the last few weeks, Stephen Vogt said after Saturday’s win that he doesn’t plan on moving him up further in the lineup. Instead, leaving Rocchio in one of the final three spots of the order extends Cleveland’s lineup, and he’s doing a great job turning it over for the leadoff hitters.

“He makes [the lineup] really long. That’s why I love to keep him down there in the eight, nine hole,” said Vogt on Saturday. “It allows him to get on base for [Seven Kwan] and the top of the order. So, he’s been great. When he’s swinging the bat and playing the defense he’s been capable of, it makes our lineup a lot longer and us a much better team.”

After the first two months of the season, it certainly looked like Rocchio’s opportunity with the big-league club had come and gone, but to his credit, he made some necessary adjustments in the minors and is reaping those rewards.

If the Guardians are going to continue their playoff push and grab a wild-card spot or even complete the comeback in the division, they’re going to need Rocchio to keep hitting at a high level and extending the lineup, as Vogt recently noted. 

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