Overlooked Guardians bench option just became a World Baseball Classic folk hero

While the World Baseball Classic provides MLB players with a chance to become a hero to their home country, the flip side of that decision is that it means that any player that participates in the classic loses out on time in spring training with their MLB team. 

Stuart Fairchild had to weigh that exact decision since he’s in Guardians’ camp as a non-roster invitee, but he still decided to go across the country and play for Chinese Taipei in the WBC. 

It ended up being the right decision. 

Whale Fairchild and his Chinese Taipei teammates didn’t advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament, Fairchild made the most of his time in the tournament by going 3-for-12 with two massive home runs. 

The second of those home runs came on early Sunday morning when he slugged a go-ahead two-run home run in Chinese Taipei’s 5-4 win over Korea. 

Guardians outfielder Stuart Fairchild had a successful WBC with Chinese Taipei 

Fairchild’s sudden power stroke is even more impressive given that he isn’t known as much of a power hitter. In fact, he went homerless in 28 MLB games with the Braves last season and hasn’t hit a homer in a big league game since Aug. 8, 2024. 

But he opened the Classic with a massive grand slam against Czechia and followed that up with his big homer against Korea. 

The homer didn’t end up putting Korea away thanks to a huge game-tying double from Korea’s Do Yeong Kim, but Chinese Taipei ended up picking up the win in extras. 

They were eliminated a day later thanks to Korea’s 7-2 win over Australia. 

But even though Chinese Taipei’s time in the Classic came to a quick end. It’s still clear that Fairchild made the right decision by playing in the Classic. 

While his accomplishments came on the other side of the globe when most Guardians fans were asleep, he still showed an exciting amount of pop and performance in a high-pressure environment. 

Fairchild still has a clear path to make the Guardians’ roster thanks to the team’s lack of right-handed hitting outfielders, and he has the speed and contact skills needed in a fourth outfielder. 

Steven Kwan’s an obvious lock to be in the outfield on Opening Day against the Mariners, and it seems like Chase DeLauter and George Valera have the inside track for two spots so long as they can stay healthy. 

But Fairchild provided a unique skillset to that picture even before his recent power surge. Now he’s an even better fit.