Reliable Daniel Schneemann Carves Out A Role With Cleveland Guardians

Left-handed hitting Daniel Schneemann has made his presence known on the Cleveland Guardians roster.

Schneemann, 28, has taken full advantage of the opportunities given to him by Guardians manager, Stephen Vogt.

Schneemann is an extremely versatile baseball player.

Schneemann likely comes to games with several baseball gloves, as he has played second base, third base, shortstop, and the outfield in parts of two seasons on the Guardians parent club.

A true Swiss Army knife type player, it is his defensive prowess at so many positions that may have first caught the eyes of the Guardians front office.

It is, however, his ability to smoke a baseball from the left side of the plate that keeps his manager offering Schneemann significant playing time.

Lately, Schneemann is in the lineup against right-handed pitching, the strong and most common part of a left-handed, right-handed hitting platoon.

Schneemann has been hitting the ball so hard, he has virtually relegated the Guardians Brayan Rocchio back to Triple-A Columbus. Rocchio was optioned May 12.

Schneemann has claimed the second base role as his own, with stellar defensive infielder Gabriel Arias assuming the starting role at shortstop.

More about Daniel Schneemann:

Daniel Schneemann first caught the eye of this old scout in the Guardians 2024 spring training camp in Goodyear, Arizona.

Watching Schneemann every day in his workouts and in spring games, this observer found Schneemann to be very reliable on both sides of the ball.

Offensively, Schneemann hit the ball hard, and found the right-center gap with frequency.

Defensively, Schneemann moved around the diamond and played each position with confidence and excellent ability.

Schneemann was ultimately promoted to the Guardians, making his big league debut June 2, 2024.

This is the Daniel Schneemann scouting report this old scout filed on these pages last June.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/berniepleskoff/2024/06/06/major-league-scouting-report-cleveland-guardians-daniel-schneemann/

One of the remarkable factors about Schneemann is his ability to make a major league club after being a 33rd round draft pick of the (then) Cleveland Indians in 2018.

It is a struggle for any player, even a top draft pick, to make the major leagues.

Consider the difficulties a 33rd round player must overcome. Frankly, those selected before him in his draft class were most likely offered more opportunities, more chances to show coaches their skills and tools.

Schneemann was listed as a shortstop at the time he was drafted.

Schneemann was given a $50,000 signing bonus, which was far below the millions many prospects are given at the time of the draft.

This season, Schneemann put himself on the minds of baseball fans when he hit two home runs against the Toronto Blue Jays May 4, 2025

His first homer was a solo blast in the eighth inning. His second was a monster grand-slam with two outs in the ninth inning. He gave his team a much valued win.

Here is what manager Stephen Vogt told MLB.com about Schneemann after his epic game.

“He’s been waiting for this his whole life,” Vogt said. “Daniel Schneemann’s a really good baseball player. We’ve been saying it for over a year now. He means so much to this team, his versatility, but also he’s just really good. What a cool moment. Something he’ll never forget.”

Growing As A Player:

Last year for the Guardians, Daniel Schneemann played in 73 games as a rookie.

He hit .218/.303/.368/.671, with 10 doubles, two triples, five home runs, and three stolen bases in five attempts. He struck out 70 times in 221 plate appearances.

After his great spring, last season was a time of adjustment for Schneemann.

He was facing most pitchers for the first time in his career.

There were times Schneemann was fooled badly by solid pitch sequencing.

This year seems different.

While Schneemann may have entered last season confident after his solid spring, his confidence took a hit during the season. At times he looked defeated.

What a difference this new season has made.

Daniel Schneemann looks like he can accept any challenge he is offered by his manager, or by opposing pitchers.

Schneemann has become a tough out.

Schneemann is not only hitting the ball off the barrel with force, he is showing his baseball running speed and instincts.

Defensively, he is making all the plays, and earning the trust his manager has placed in him.

At the end of play May 12, here are Schneemann’s hitting .263, with five doubles, five home runs, and 12 RBIs. He has played in 31 games, and has 91 plate appearances.