Austin Hedges’ impact was in full display in Guardians' win over Rangers 

Austin Hedges has meant many things to Guardians fans throughout his six year tenure with the club. In 2020, he was a return in Cleveland’s fleece of the Padres. In 2022, he was miscast as an everyday player. 

While he’s been a part-time player/vibes guy for the past two years, he became a key part of the roster at the start of May when the Guardians sent Bo Naylor to the minors and traded for a fellow light-hitting catcher in Patrick Bailey. 

But Hedges brought out the power on Wednesday by smashing a huge two-run homer in the eighth inning in Cleveland’s 9-4 win over the Rangers. 

Although Hedges’ homer would have been huge at any point in the season, it seemed to mean a little more to the Guardians considering Hedges was just in the middle of a beef-filled back and forth with Josh Naylor. 

Austin Hedges' strong season continuted in team's win over Rangers

While Hedges has provided the Guardians with his customary stellar defense this season, he’s also providing them with what may be the best offensive season of his career. His .270/.331/.383 slashline doesn’t jump off the page, that production makes him look like Barry Bonds considering he entered the year with a career batting average of .185. 

Hedges has added two home runs and 12 RBI, and now has an OPS+ of 101, meaning he’s been 1% better than league average. 

“The whole world knows he’s one of the best, if not the best, defensive catcher in the game,” David Fry Fry said after the game. “But his at-bat quality throughout the year has been huge. He’s obviously a vocal leader, but also the leader in showing us how we take our at-bats, and it’s been awesome.”

Not only has Hedges already surpassed his hit total from last season, but he’s also driven in two more runs than last season and cut his walk rate in half. 

That kind of offensive production makes Hedges an even more dangerous part of the Guardians’ roster. 

He may not be the biggest offensive threat or a guy who Stephen Vogt wants up with the game on the line, but he’s less of an offensive afterthought than he was last season.

Having Hedges be an average offensive bat is a huge win for the Guardians, who have been searching for offense at the bottom of their lineup since José Ramírez’s injury forced Brayan Rocchio to move up to the top of Cleveland’s lineup. 

Vogt’s lineup on Wednesday had a little bit of everything, as Fry hit leadoff (and slugged a home run against Rangers starter MacKenzie Gore) while Hedges hit eighth and Daniel Schneemann hit ninth. 

If Hedges is able to keep his production up, then the bottom of Cleveland’s lineup will be even more of a weapon once Ramírez returns.

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