Does Will Brennan make the Opening Day roster for the Cleveland Guardians?

Cleveland Guardians prospect Will Brennan - also known as Silly Willy, which is a nickname that absolutely needs to stick - knocked his first spring training home run Monday, March 13, in an 11-4 loss to the Dodgers in Glendale, Arizona.

Brennan, who made a great first impression towards the end of the 2022 MLB season, will look to make himself known once again and clinch a spot to stay in Cleveland's major-league lineup.

Last season, he was able to find himself 11 total games to play in, where he recorded 42 at-bats. In those at-bats, he smashed 15 hits for one home run, triple, and double. Even though he was not able to showcase much power, he still was able to bring in eight RBIs.

His slash line came out to be .357/.400/.500, showcasing that in those crucial end-of-season and postseason moments, Brennan can certainly help the team.

When it comes to fielding, that has never been an issue for Brennan, who has consistently been a reliable outfielder. The Cleveland Guardians utilized him mostly in left field, but he also had time as a center fielder and right fielder. In his ten appearances in the field, he had 17 opportunities and capitalized on all 17 putouts.

The most likely option for him in the 2023 season would be to see him in right field or center as Steven Kwan obviously has left locked down. With center field being a fight with Myles Straw and right field being manned by Oscar Gonzalez, Brennan will have to continue to be consistent.

Does Will Brennan Have What It Takes to Stay in the Majors?

This question is a hard one. The reason for that is the Guardians' farm system, which is heavily crowded at times. A perfect example is catcher Bo Naylor, who was recently told that he would be in the minors to start his 2023 season.

Brennan would have to get past one of the following Guardians who are projected to be in the regular outfield mix: Gonzalez, Kwan, Straw, and even Josh Naylor. While that does seem like a loaded group, it seems as though the Guardians have enjoyed his contributions, consistently putting him in the heart of the lineup. I would expect to see Brennan make that fourth outfield spot in Cleveland, as Naylor moves to the DH or first-base role alongside Josh Bell as much as possible.

While Brennan may not be the biggest name in this loaded Guardians outfield, he may be looking to change that when the season starts in just a few weeks.