'One of the most valuable players in baseball': Hedges stars vs. Orioles

BALTIMORE -- During batting practice on Thursday afternoon, Austin Hedges launched one.

The ball soared beyond the left-field wall at Camden Yards, Hedges standing at the plate watching every inch of its flight. Then, he looked at his teammates in the outfield shagging balls and flexed.

It was an apt precursor to Hedges’ night, in which he crushed his second home run of the season -- to left field, of course -- and showed off his defensive skills in the Guardians’ series-finale 6-2 loss to the Orioles.

Hedges’ homer was one of two from Cleveland, after Daniel Schneemann went yard in the at-bat prior -- the first time the Guardians have hit back-to-back long balls this year. Though the third-inning home runs didn’t majorly impact the final result -- not after the Orioles hit three off starter Tanner Bibee, who labored through 5 2/3 innings -- manager Stephen Vogt was particularly impressed with the at-bat that led to Hedges’ long ball.

“That was like, one of the best at-bats we’ve had all year by anyone,” Vogt said.

It was an impressive at-bat indeed. Facing Tomoyuki Sugano for the first time, Cleveland’s lineup had trouble getting a handle on the right-hander’s arsenal. But Hedges, ever the veteran, took his time at the plate. He took a first-pitch ball outside, then fouled off a pair. Another ball, then four fouls in a row before he got a pitch he could drive -- the ninth offering of the at-bat.

“He kind of threw me the kitchen sink,” Hedges said. “Was able to foul off a bunch of the good pitches that he made, and he made one mistake and I was able to put a good swing on it.

“[The sinker] is a pitch he relies on for chase, so I was trying to get him up, wait for that mistake. And yeah, that one didn’t really drop a whole lot.”

While Hedges’ homer was a beauty, it was what he did behind the plate that made a difference and kept the game from completely running away from the Guardians.

In the third inning, Hedges picked off Ramón Urías at third base with a laser throw. Urías had walked to lead off the inning, then advanced on a one-out double from Gunnar Henderson. With the heart of Baltimore’s order stepping to the plate, Cleveland needed a second out -- and Hedges delivered, knocking out the lead runner, too, shortly before Ryan O’Hearn launched a three-run homer (which could have been a grand slam, if not for Hedges).

It was one of two big plays from Hedges, who also threw out Jackson Holliday attempting to steal second in the seventh inning.

“He can change the game with his defense,” Vogt said. “We’ve seen that, people in Cleveland have seen that for years, and he’s the best defensive catcher on the planet for a reason. That back pick was huge. Could have helped us get out of the inning a little quicker, but -- and then throwing the baserunner out, getting the basestealer.”

For Hedges, it’s more than just getting his team outs. His focus is on his pitchers.

“I don't take pitches off back there,” Hedges said. "Doesn't matter what the situation is. I don't have the luxury of being able to take pitches off back there. I mean, no one really does. But you know, as far as my career has gone, I got to be as good as I can be back there every single pitch. And that's more so for the pitchers. You know, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I knew I took a pitch off and that hurt my pitcher’s ERA or something like that, cost the team runs. So I just don't take pitches off.”

Though Hedges only plays every couple days as Cleveland’s backup backstop, his impact in the Guardians’ clubhouse last season was monumental -- so much so that the organization took almost no time signing Hedges to a one-year deal this winter.

Part of that is because Hedges is an active participant in every game, regardless of whether he’s in the starting lineup.

Take Wednesday night, for example. When Triston McKenzie, still adjusting to his new role in the bullpen, was having trouble landing his pitches, Hedges was pacing the dugout, talking to Vogt, living and breathing every one of McKenzie’s pitches. It’s not uncommon, but it makes his teammates pay attention when Hedges has something to say.

“He just does so much for the team,” Schneemann said. “He leads the team -- even when he’s not starting he’s leading the team meetings, he’s giving a lot of input on the scouting report. So he does so much for the team on and off the field, and he helps us win games.”

“He’s one of the most valuable players in baseball,” Vogt said. “He's the leader of this team. He keeps everybody in the game, he talks baseball the whole game, and he's a really good player, so we're fortunate to have Hedgey.”