Juan Brito makes most of long-awaited debut in Guardians’ win over Royals 

For three seasons, Juan Brito waited in the Guardians’ minor league system. While the Guardians obviously thought highly enough of him to acquire him from the Rockies in exchange for Nolan Jones, there was always some kind of factor that impacted his ability to make a big league impression. 

Whether it be injuries, infield logjams or a combination of both, there never seemed to be a clear avenue for him to make an impact at Progressive Field. 

That’s no longer the case. 

On Tuesday, the Guardians finally called Brito up to the bigs as the corresponding move for Gabriel Arias going on the injured list with a hamstring strain. He responded with a 2-for-4 performance in Cleveland’s 2-1 walk-off win over the Royals. 

Juan Brito looked the part in Guardians’ win over Royals 

Brito wasted no time making an impression, as he lined the fifth he saw from Royals starter Noah Cameron into the left field corner for a double in his first big league at-bat. 

It’s the kind of approach that helped him hit .274 in 480 minor league games. 

After flying out to left field in his next at-bat, he recorded another hit his third time at the plate via a line drive to left (all the at-bats came when he was batting from the right side). 

He got turned around to the left side in his final at-bat in the ninth inning and opened the inning with a ground out to Maikel Garcia.

That didn’t stop Cleveland’s game-winning rally, however, as the ground out was followed by a single from CJ Kayfus and a Bo Naylor walk that helped set up Brayan Rocchio’s walk-off single. 

It’s a bit fitting that Rocchio picked up the game-winning knock considering he’s the other Guardians who will be impacted the most by Arias’ injury. 

After playing primarily at second base since he was recalled in the second half of last season, he shifted back over to short last night after Arias left the game and got the start there again on Tuesday. 

Rocchio homered in the eighth inning of last night's game in his only at-bat as a shortstop, and he started today's game 0-for-3 before picking up the game-winning hit.

He and Brito are now going to be the Guardians’ primary double-play tandem. 

Although Brito has seen time at second, third, first and the corner outfield spots in the minors, he’s going to be the Guardians’ primary second baseman for the time being. 

Arias’ hamstring strain should keep him out for the foreseeable future, so Brito should get plenty of chances to prove that he deserves to stick on the Guardians’ big league roster. 

It’s a chance that’s been three years in the making.