David Fry’s sporadic playing time has removed one of Guardians' biggest roster advantages 

In the fourth inning of the Guardians' 8-2 loss the Royals on Saturday, David Fry roped a Daniel Lynch IV changeup into the right field corner for a double. After jogging into second base, he turned toward the Guardians' dugout and tapped his hands under his chin.

While that kind of celebration is customary for any Guardians player who hits a double, it was probably a bit sweeter for Fry considering it was his first hit since his home run against the White Sox on July 2.

Even if Fry is no stranger to coming off the bench (such is the life of a utility player), the past month has been one of the more volatile periods of his career. 

After getting demoted to Triple-A following the Guardians’ trades for Jo Adell and Nathaniel Lowe, Fry raked in his brief stay in the minors before getting called back up to the Guardians on Aug. 19 when Rhys Hoskins went on the injured list. 

Instead of getting a chance to pick up where he left off in the minors, Fry has mostly been glued to the bench since getting called up. 

While Fry is in the midst of a second straight rough season (there’s a reason he got sent down to the minors, after all), it’s becoming clear the Guardians are wasting Fry’s roster spot by not using him as a utility option. 

The Guardians are wasting David Fry's skillset

It can be easy to forget that we're a little more than two years removed from Fry being one of the best players in baseball during the first half of the 2024 season.

Part of the reason he was the best was because of what he was doing at the batter’s box when he posted a 1.114 OPS across the first two months of the season.

But another part of that reason was due to what he was doing in the field, as he saw time at first base, third base, catcher and left field in that span.

While that versatility is what got Fry on the roster, his offensive production helped him stick on the roster and became a first time All-Star. 

Although Fry’s offense has cratered since that electric start to the 2024 season, he still held some value to Cleveland thanks to his defensive versatility. 

Along with being able to play catcher, Fry has seen time at first base, third base, right field and left field.

His presence on the Guardians’ roster was the ultimate chess piece since it gives Stephen Vogt the ability to move him around the diamond while also giving him the chance to be aggressive in pinch-hitting for his catcher. 

But that hasn’t happened since getting called up, as his lone appearance prior to today came as a pinch-hitter against the Angels where he slotted into left field. 

While part of that reason for that is because the Guardians have faced off against a plethora of right-handed starters, Vogt hasn’t been nearly as aggressive in using him off the bench as he has been in previously due to Fry’s being locked into a platoon at first base with Lowe. 

It was one thing for that platoon to consist of Hoskins and Lowe (both of whom are exclusively first baseman), but it’s another thing to use Fry there and clip his defensive wings. 

Fry ended up going 1-for-1 with a walk against the Royals on Saturday before being pulled for Lowe in the seventh inning when Kansas City brought in right-handed reliever John Schreiber.

That may play into the Guardians' obsession with having the platoon advantage, but it's not the best way to use Fry.

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