5 Guardians who must prove their worth in 2025

5. Johnathan Rodriguez - Outfielder

Of the players making appearances on this list, Johnathan Rodriguez has the least amount of time in the major leagues on his resume. While it may seem a bit unfair for him to be here, the reality is that the Guardians need actual outfield help, and there is no time like the present for Rodriguez to show that he is the solution to their problem rather than being just another name in a long list of names who have since proven otherwise.

One of the biggest obstacles for Rodriguez is not what he might be able to provide with a bat in his hand, it is the fact that his offensive profile is somewhat of a redundancy when compared to Jhonkensy Noel. Both are right-handed corner outfield bats who also happen to strike out a lot. This makes it difficult for Rodriguez to have a direct path toward playing time in Cleveland.

Barring an unforeseen injury or complete lack of production from Noel, it is not going to be easy for Rodriguez to find playing time. However, if Rodriguez is able to show he is a different or even better offensive player than Noel, he may be able to force his way into regular playing time in Cleveland.