The Cleveland Guardians All-Century Team

Center Field

Grady Sizemore (2004-2011)

Stats: .269/.357/.473, .830 OPS, 120 OPS+, 27.7 bWAR, 139 HR, 458 RBI, 134 SB

One of the biggest “what ifs” in recent baseball memory, Grady Sizemore was a Hall of Fame-caliber player during his peak. Injuries derailed his career and he was unable to stay on the field after 2008. Despite only playing 100+ games with the team five times, Sizemore’s 30.4 fWAR is second, only behind Ramirez, during the century. However, what he accomplished from 2005 through 2008 will never be forgotten.

He hit 22 or more homers and stole 22 or more bases every year during that stretch. He made three All-Star teams, received MVP votes in all four seasons, won two Gold Gloves and one Silver Slugger. His batting line was .281/.372/.496, a .868 OPS, and 128 OPS+ while averaging 6.2 WAR per year. Sizemore’s 27.3 fWAR ranked fourth in the whole sport during this span, just behind Alex Rodriguez. While WAR is not the only stat that matters, Sizemore was as great an all-around player as there was in baseball during his prime, and that makes him a lock for this century team.