How these Guardians rookies can help swing the American League Central race

The start of George Valera and Petey Halpin’s careers couldn’t be less different. Valera was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2017 and quickly rose the ranks to become the team’s top prospect before injuries derailed his ascension. 

Meanwhile, the Guardians drafted Halpin in the third round of the 2020 draft and he's quietly risen through the team’s ranks before being added to the 40-man roster ahead of this season. 

But even if their journeys aren’t similar, the way they can impact the Guardians’ postseason race thanks to Nolan Jones’ injury.

George Valera and Petey Halpin could be postseason X-factors for the Guardians 

Over the weekend, the Guardians placed Jones on the 10-day injured list, which opens up a huge hole in right field. While Jones has hit just .211 this year, he’s hit some big home runs and leads the Guardians with 101 appearances in right field. 

That hole could be filled by Valera and Halpin. 

Although Valera has appeared in three games in right field since being called up at the beginning of September, more than half of his minor league appearances have come in right field. He’s hit .250/.382/.429 in 11 games with the Guardians this year (he got the first chance to start in right field on Saturday after Jones’ injury), and showcased his pop over the weekend when he slugged his first major league home run. 

Halpin notched his first major league debut in the second game of that doubleheader and went 1-for-3 with two runs scored. He started in center field before moving to left field. Halpin slashed .249/.321/.414 with 29 doubles, 14 home runs, 44 RBI and 15 steals in 126 games at Triple-A this year, and he can make an impact with his legs and defense, which are two things that you can never have enough of in the postseason. 

While Halpin has only been on the Guardians big league roster for a couple days, he’s eligible to be on the postseason roster since he was on the 40-man roster before the Aug. 31 cutoff. The Guardians made a similar decision in 2022 when they added Will Brennan to their postseason roster despite the fact he had only played in 11 major league games. 

Jones’ injury will also open more time for Jhonkensy Noel, who has slugged .500 in 15 games since being called up earlier this month. The Guardians could also give Daniel Schneemann some more time at right field as well. 

The Guardians were already going to need to make some kind of decision about the future of right field in the offseason thanks to Jones’ struggles this year, but his injury gives them a chance to cycle through some other options in the middle of a pennant race. 

It’s not perfect, but it’ll give the Guardians a chance to see who on their roster will sink or swim when the pressure’s on.