Entering 2022, the Cleveland Guardians had many questions around the outfield and where the team would find production from the group. So far the answer for the Guards has been to let the youth movement patrol the outfield grass at Progressive Field.
Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan might have had the spotlight in April, but latest call-up Oscar Gonzalez has been taking strides and making history since being called up, notching 25 hits in his first 15 games in the MLB, the most by a player in their first 15 games in Cleveland history.
In his 15 games, Gonzalez is batting .417 with nine doubles and six runs batted in. Coming up in the minor leagues with the organization, Gonzalez had struggles with striking out, but always made up for it with his batting average, hitting a respectable .280 and higher in all but one season.
Since being called up, Gonzalez has made a strong impression in the lineup, adding some needed pop to the back half of the lineup and lengthening the depth of the Guardians position players.
His power potential allows for others like Andres Gimenez, Owen Miller and Kwan to be able to get on-base and force opponents to choose where to focus: on the basepaths or at the plate.
What should truly worry opponents is not only the production that he has to this point, but also the fact that he has done all of this without hitting his first major league home run. Once the raw power that was showcased in 2021 starts to come to fruition, opponents will be seeing Oscar Gonzalez in their nightmares before coming to Progressive Field.
