Will Brennan has proven he can remain on the Cleveland Guardians' major league roster

At the beginning of the 2024 season, questions were asked on whether or not outfielder Will Brennan had what it takes to remain in the major leagues. Well, with consistency with his glove and a poised bat, he has proven he can remain a staple in the Cleveland Guardians outfield. Fortunately for Brennan, there seem to be no real prospects that will force their way into his role for the foreseeable future.

Back in 2022, the then 24-year-old was given the nod by the organization to compete for the major league roster for 11 games. Over the course of his time that season, he recorded 42 at-bats where he registered 15 hits, one double, triple, and home run, which led to eight runs being driven in. He also struck out just four times while being walked twice for a batting average of .357 with an on-base percentage of .400. Due to his play, the Guardians opted to continue utilizing him the following season in the major leagues.

Last season, he kept up consistent numbers as he slashed .266/.299/.356 with 115 hits, 24 doubles and five home runs. His power and accuracy at the plate were good enough for 41 RBI. Once again, another positive was his lack of striking out, which was just 57 on the year. Batting in 138 games on the season, this averages out to be just 0.413 strikeouts per game. Those numbers at the plate are all drastically higher and more routine than what they've received in recent years from the likes of outfielders Myles Straw, Nolan Jones and, Will Benson. While both Benson and Jones had limited time with the team.

Throughboth ofhis first two seasons on the fielding side of things, he has showcased that he can play in all three areas: right, left and center. His fielding percentage also shows very little sign of error, as he committed just six errors through 2022 and 2023. Primarily, the Guardians have been using him in right field, but being able to play all three positions is important to showcase his different abilities.

A look at 2024

Just a few short weeks ago, on May 19, Brennan put his play on the map. Against the Minnesota Twins, he hit a three-run homer off Jhoan Duran with two outs in the ninth inning of the game. His moonshot would give the Guardians a 5-2 victory in memorable fashion. The fun in it all? The prior hitter, star first baseman Josh Naylor, was walked, paving the way for the walkoff winner.

On the campaign, his 156 at-bats places him sixth on the team in that category to go alongside a batting average of .237, an on-base mark of .298 and a slugging rate of .378. He has also gone the distance five times, a tally he hit last season through the entire year, not just 52 games. With his power starting to shine through and the outfield prospects struggling to maintain consistent form, Brennan should be on a lock to hold down his job for the rest of 2024 and beyond.

But what do you think? Are you sure that Will Brennan is a lock in the outfield moving forward, or will a new face in the minor league system take MLB by storm?