After hot postseason run, Rocchio comes into '25 with new confidence

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- There was a moment during the Guardians¡¯ 2024 postseason run that shortstop Brayan Rocchio will never forget.

On Oct. 12, as Rocchio stepped in the batter¡¯s box in the bottom of the eighth of a winner-take-all NLDS Game 5 against the Tigers, he was greeted by nearly 35,000 fans at Progressive Field chanting his name: Ro-chhi-o! Ro-cchi-o!

¡°That¡¯s the best moment in my life,¡± Rocchio said.

Rocchio responded by delivering an RBI single that extended the Guardians¡¯ lead to 7-3. They went on to win the game and the series, stamping their ticket to the ALCS.

After hitting .206 with eight homers and 36 RBIs in 143 games in 2024 -- his first full season in the Majors -- Rocchio looked like a different hitter in the postseason. He went 11-for-33 (.333) with one homer, two doubles and five walks in 10 games.

It¡¯s no wonder that Rocchio is feeling more confident this year.

¡°The confidence came from the postseason games,¡± Rocchio said.

¡°He's done it on the biggest stage,¡± Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. ¡°Playing shortstop for 150-something games is not easy for anybody to do. There are a lot of learning lessons, a lot of things that he went through last year that he's going to be able to reflect upon and build off of.

¡°His postseason success at the plate is definitely something I think that's going to be a catalyst.¡±

After struggling at times last year with his mentality at the plate, Rocchio said that he is thinking more positive thoughts in the box this spring. Cactus League results certainly aren¡¯t everything, but in 11 games, he is 9-for-27 (.333) with four doubles and three walks. He went 0-for-1 with two walks in the Guardians¡¯ 6-4 loss to the Rockies on Thursday at Salt River Fields.

Last year, Rocchio entered camp in a competition for the starting shortstop job. This year, the job is effectively already his as long as he can stay healthy.

Despite his inconsistencies on offense last year, Rocchio proved to be a stellar defender at shortstop, ranking in the 89th percentile in fielding range, according to Statcast.

If he can find a way to replicate his postseason success at the plate, he could emerge as one of the better young players in the game.

¡°Rocchi is just getting started with his career,¡± Vogt said. ¡°He's going to continue to learn more and more every day out, every week, every month, every year. I really love the way Rocchi is progressing.¡±

Guardians set pitching plans for Spring Breakout
On Friday, many of the Guardians¡¯ top prospects will be on display in their Spring Breakout game against the Mariners at 8:05 p.m. ET at Goodyear Ballpark.

• What to watch for from Cleveland's prospects at Spring Breakout

Left-hander Parker Messick, the Guardians¡¯ No. 14 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is slated to start the game for Cleveland, farm director Stephen Osterer said Thursday.

In 27 games (26 starts) in the Minors last year, Messick logged a 2.83 ERA in 133 2/3 innings. He turned in a particularly impressive 2.04 ERA in 65 2/3 innings after being promoted from High-A Lake County to Double-A Akron in June.

¡°As he started to lock in his delivery last year and lock in some of the execution quality, the true talent kind of played out,¡± Osterer said. ¡°... We were really excited in terms of the strides that he made last season. He's put a lot of work in this offseason to show up in an even better spot.¡±

Messick is expected to throw about three innings and will be followed on the mound by right-hander Austin Peterson (No. 30 prospect) and left-hander Matt Wilkinson, Osterer added, among others.

On the position player side, second baseman Travis Bazzana (Guardians No. 1, No. 10 overall), outfielder Jaison Chourio (No. 3, No. 59 overall) and infielder Angel Genao (No. 4, No. 61 overall) are some of the Guardians¡¯ headliners that are expected to play.