3 Cleveland Guardians who have stumbled out of the gate who may not recover

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After eight games, the Cleveland Guardians are sitting pretty at 6-2. Offensively, this team is performing at the level that almost everyone expected them to last year, as they rank inside the top five of several categories entering play on Friday. This includes hits (third), doubles (third), triples (third), and stolen bases (fourth). This is in addition to having the eighth-highest team batting average (.271).

So, while there are more than a few players who are pulling their weight to help contribute to the Cleveland Guardians' hot start offensively and in the win column, there also happen to be a few players who have not been able to do all that much at the plate.

Even though it is very early in the season and the possibility exists that they could turn things around, it is hard to envision that happening for these players when taking their previous offensive track record into account. There is also the possibility that one of these players even sees his time with the Cleveland Guardians organization come to an end, not just because of his poor showing at the plate, but due to the presence of a highly regarded prospect expected to debut later this year.

1. Austin Hedges

This should not come as a surprise to anyone. Austin Hedges has never been known for his offensive capabilities, and that has not changed this season either.

With just two hits in 12 at-bats, Hedges has not exactly been a force at the plate through the first week of the season. Striking out six times without recording a single walk is also something to take note of. The only real positive for Hedges at the plate so far is that he has been able to drive in three runs, one of which came on a sacrifice fly.

For most players, this type of offensive futility would be a major cause for concern regarding their job security. However, Hedges is a defensive first backup catcher to Bo Naylor and is a big-time vibes guy. The Guardians do not need Hedges to be an offensive juggernaut, considering these roles.

That is not to say that the team would not welcome a more productive version of Hedges, but rather, there is a certain understanding of what offensive production the team is going to get from him over the course of a season. Even if Hedges' performance at the plate stays the same, his spot on the roster is not in jeopardy, and he should remain on the team for the rest of the season.

2. Gabriel Arias

Once in the mix for the starting shortstop position, Gabriel Arias has since been relegated to the bench as a utility player. Arias has not done much in his limited opportunities to prove that decision was a mistake, as he has struggled to do much of anything at the plate.

With just two hits in 13 at-bats, Arias has more than justified the decision to go with Brayan Rocchio as the Cleveland Guardians' everyday shortstop. Interestingly enough, Arias has only struck out two times so far (15.4%), which is half the frequency of his career average strikeout rate (31.7%) and is far less than his projected averages for the season.

The performance at the plate from Arias is what everyone should really expect. Arias has a career slash line of .205/.278/.341. It would be one thing if Arias was able to show a long-lasting rate of success in the minors, but he has mostly struggled after hitting 29 doubles and 13 home runs with a .284/.348/.454/.802 over 115 games with the Columbus Clippers in 2021.

Do not expect Arias to be thrown on the scrap heap any time soon, however, as he does have the ability to hit for some power. Arias hit 15 doubles and 10 home runs in 2023, and considering the lack of overall power in Cleveland's lineup, that could be more than enough to keep him on the major league roster.

3. Estevan Florial

There was one player from the beginning of the offseason that should not have made the Opening Day roster but did anyway. That player was Estevan Florial. The former New York Yankees outfield prospect did not do much before landing in Cleveland, and that has not changed in the early part of this season.

Florial is 2-11 with five strikeouts, with one of his two hits being an unlikely triple. Struggling at the plate is nothing new for Florial and is something that seems unlikely to change now or in the future.

To put it bluntly, Florial does not look the part of a major league hitter. There is a certain amount of production required for players that strike out at a high rate, and Florial's lifetime 31.3% strikeout rate more than qualifies. The issue is that Florial swings and misses so frequently, and the contact he has made has not been hard (Florial's hard-hit rate is 16.7%). This lack of hard contact is not going to lead to any sort of consistent production any time soon.

Cleveland took a chance on Florial with the hopes that he could provide a much-needed power boost to their outfield group. If Florial is unable to have an uncharacteristic turnaround at the plate, it seems likely that the team will move on from him in order to clear a spot for the highly regarded Chase DeLauter sooner rather than later. Putting an end to experiement which never should have taken place to begin with.