Brito (No. 10 prospect) breaks out of skid with 3-run homer

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Guardians second baseman Juan Brito has found mentorship this spring via two veterans in Cleveland¡¯s clubhouse: Jos¨¦ Ram¨ªrez and Carlos Santana.

¡°Ram¨ªrez and Santana, they took me under their wing,¡± Brito said through interpreter Agustin Rivero. ¡°They always keep it positive for me to just keep working and keep grinding.¡±

That figures to have been good advice over the first few weeks of Cactus League play. Brito (the Guardians¡¯ No. 10 prospect, per MLB Pipeline) is one of a handful of candidates competing for Cleveland¡¯s second-base opening, following the offseason trade of Andr¨¦s Gim¨¦nez.

There¡¯s much more to Spring Training than individual statistics, but it¡¯s always nice to put up some good moments. Brito connected on a three-run homer in Monday¡¯s 7-4 loss to the Cubs at Goodyear Ballpark, after entering the day 1-for-19 in eight games this spring.

¡°I¡¯ve remained positive despite not having the results,¡± Brito said. ¡°I just trust my talent, and I go out there and just try to have fun.¡±

Along with Brito, Gabriel Arias, Tyler Freeman, Daniel Schneemann and Angel Martinez are candidates for the job at second base. Arias has the most experience, and he also is out of Minor League options. He¡¯s made six starts at second, tied with Brito for the team lead. (Freeman and Martinez have made two starts each, and Schneemann has made one).

¡°It's not just about the games, it¡¯s about the work,¡± manager Stephen Vogt said last week. ¡°It's about the practice, it's about the reps that you're putting in every day. Juan's been doing a great job. We'll just have to wait and see how it plays out. We have a number of guys that are competing for that second-base position, and then a number of guys that are going to continue to get opportunities. And Juan is definitely one of them.¡±

The 26-man roster Cleveland carries out of the gate will evolve over the course of the season. If Brito ultimately opens the season in the Minor Leagues, it would afford him everyday at-bats in the meantime.

¡°We put a lot of emphasis on those first 26, but we used 50 guys last year,¡± Vogt said. ¡°Not speaking to Juan specifically, it's the whole group. A lot of emphasis gets put on who's going to be on the line in Kansas City, right?

¡°But at the end of the day, we feel really good about the group of position players and pitchers that we have in camp that are going to contribute over the course of the six-, seven-month season. Juan is definitely in that mix.¡±

Brito is maintaining a mature perspective.

¡°I just focus on my routines and what I can control,¡± Brito said. ¡°Obviously working on the things the team wants me to work on, but other than that, [the competition is] something I can't control. I just keep focusing on what I can control.¡±

McKenzie¡¯s second start
Triston McKenzie made his second start of Cactus League play Monday against the Cubs, and his first since Feb. 22. He pitched in relief on Feb. 27 and threw a live batting practice session on the off-day last Wednesday.

The right-hander, who is out of Minor League options, faces competition as the Guardians¡¯ fifth starter this spring. He allowed two runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings on Monday, but struck out three with no walks.

In his last outing against the White Sox, McKenzie issued five walks in two-thirds of an inning out of the bullpen. He was pleased with how he attacked the zone in Monday¡¯s start.

¡°Just attacking barrels and letting guys put the ball in play,¡± McKenzie said, ¡°and letting our defense work behind us.¡±

¡°His stuff's in a really good spot,¡± Vogt said of McKenzie on Monday morning. ¡°For me, with Triston, it's just repeating his delivery. When he repeats his delivery, he's nasty. He's in a great head space. He knows he's in that competition, and he wants it. I just really like the way Triston has been attacking this camp.¡±