Cleveland Guardians Need Slugging Version Of Oscar Gonzalez To Return

The Cleveland Guardians need more offense.

Last year, the loud bat of right-handed hitting Oscar Gonzalez helped the Cleveland Guardians win the American League Central Division.

Gonzalez, 25, hit 11 home runs, and drove in 43 runs for the Guardians in 91 games last season. Gonzalez hit .296/.327/.461/.789 for Cleveland in 382 plate appearances.

Gonzalez had some very key hits down the pennant stretch, and was a credible power threat in the postseason.

The Guardians need that Oscar Gonzalez to return to their big league lineup. But only if solid hitting mechanics have been restored.

A big man, Gonzalez is 6-4, 240 pounds.

As the 2023 season came into view, the Guardians were counting on Gonzalez to provide power from the middle of the batting order.

Unfortunately, the trajectory for Gonzalez went down hill as spring training began.

In 19 spring games, Gonzalez looked lost at the plate. He was swinging at bad pitches. He was getting himself out. In fact, he hit only one home run.

The Guardians were watching their budding star outfielder, the guy that hit close to .300 with a .461 slugging percentage the season before, decline before their eyes.

Hitting in the middle of the Guardians lineup to start the season, Gonzalez hit .192 with one homer and five RBIs in 75 plate appearances. His slugging percentage dropped to .288 in 25 games played.

Having seen enough of their struggling slugger, the Guardians sent Gonzalez to Triple-A Columbus on May 6, 2023.

With the realization that Gonzalez wasn’t the same hitter he was in 2022, the Guardians faced a huge power hole in the middle of their lineup.

In the offseason, the Guardians signed switch-hitting first baseman/designated hitter Josh Bell to a two-year, $33 million free agent contract. He is being paid $16.5 million this year. He holds an opt out option at the same amount next year.

The Guardians thought Bell would team with switch-hitting Jose Ramirez and Gonzalez to form a potent trio in the middle of the batting order.

The Guardians hoped perhaps first baseman/designated hitter Josh Naylor, a left-handed hitter, would build upon the dynamic and aggressive performance he flashed at the end of last season. He would be a great compliment to Gonzalez, but from the other side of the plate.

The Guardians would have Ramirez, Bell, Gonzalez, and Naylor to threaten pitchers with a balanced approach of power bats.

Now with Gonzalez trying to find his swing mechanics at Triple-A, one of the power threats is gone. And Bell has been very mediocre, at best.

Pitchers now concentrate on Ramirez and Naylor, who is having an outstanding season at the plate. Bell has been inconsistent, and hasn’t been the threat the Guardians had projected.

Bell has struggled mightily so far. In fact, he has hit only eight home runs through 311 plate appearances. That clearly is not what Cleveland expects from their $33 million power hitter.

Naylor, however, has been a dominant, consequential hitter in the middle of the Guardians lineup. He is smoking line drives, driving in runs, and making an impact at the plate.

Oscar Gonzalez at Triple-A Columbus:

During his minor league development years, there must have been some concern among the Guardians front office regarding Gonzalez’ ability to perform at the big league level.

Gonzalez was not placed on the team’s 40-man roster when he was eligible in November 2021. It meant Gonzalez would be exposed to the MLB Rule 5 draft.

Because he was not protected on their 40-man roster, any MLB team could claim Gonzalez away from Cleveland during that draft.

Due to the pandemic, MLB did not conduct the Rule 5 draft in 2021. In fact, there were no Winter Meetings, where the Rule 5 Draft is conducted.

The Guardians were able to retain Gonzalez, and he was ultimately added to the 40-man.

Now, after trying to regain his confidence and his swing mechanics, Gonzalez is once again knocking on the major league door.

There is hope Gonzalez has regained the form that made him dangerous at the plate.

As of the start of play July 4, Gonzalez has hit seven homers. He is hitting .287, with 39 RBIs in 211 plate appearances.

One of the greatest flaws in Gonzalez’ game has been poor plate discipline. He has had trouble recognizing pitches out of the hand of the pitcher. He has had trouble hitting breaking balls with high spin rates. He struggles with high fastballs, showing an inability to lay off that pitch.

Historically, Gonzalez has had very poor walk rates.

For example, in the 2021 season at Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus combined, Gonzalez walked 22 times in 504 plate appearances. He did, however, hit 31 home runs, and drove in a combined 83 runs. Gonzalez struck out 112 times that season.

Gonzalez’ walk rate didn’t improve at the big league level. In 457 big league plate appearances with Cleveland, including 382 in 2022 and 75 this year, Gonzalez recorded 17 walks. He struck out 90 times, including 75 in 2022 and 15 this year.

Bottom line? The Guardians need more power. Short of a trade, their best option may be a renewed Oscar Gonzalez.

Recently, Gonzalez’ bat has come to life at Columbus.

If things continue to go well, it may soon be Oscar time once again in Cleveland.