Guardians infielder Juan Brito underwent surgical procedure on Friday on his proper thumb to deal with a high-grade ligament sprain and is anticipated to overlook eight to 12 weeks. Tim Stebbins of MLB.com was amongst these to relay the information and famous that Brito suffered the harm sliding into third base final Thursday. Brito is on the 40-man roster however on non-obligatory project. He’ll probably be positioned on the minor league injured checklist. The membership may recall him and place him on the main league 60-day IL to open a 40-man roster spot, however doing so would imply giving Brito main league pay and repair time.
Brito, 23, was acquired from the Rockies within the November 2022 commerce which despatched Nolan Jones to Colorado. Brito was added to Cleveland’s 40-man roster on the time of that commerce. Jones later got here again to the Guardians final month within the swap that despatched Tyler Freeman to the mountains.
Not that there’s ever a great time to have surgical procedure and miss a number of months, however that is maybe an particularly unlucky time for Brito to be out of motion. He’s in his closing possibility 12 months, which means he’ll be out of choices in 2026, although it’s potential the Guardians would ultimately be granted a fourth possibility. A participant is eligible for a fourth possibility if they’ve exhausted the primary three and nonetheless have lower than 5 “full seasons”. A full season is outlined as one wherein the participant was energetic within the majors or minors for at the very least 90 days. It seems that Brito didn’t have his first “full season” till 2022, so he would solely have 4 seasons even when he heals up in time to hit 90 days right here in 2025.
Nonetheless, possibility standing apart, 2025 was maybe Brito’s finest likelihood at enjoying time in Cleveland since he’s primarily a second baseman. The Guardians opened up enjoying time at that spot by buying and selling Andrés Giménez to the Blue Jays within the winter. In the long term, prospect Travis Bazzana probably has a declare to that job, however not instantly. He got here into 2025 with simply 27 video games at Excessive-A because the extent of his skilled expertise. He has added 16 Double-A video games to date this 12 months.
Brito has all the time put up good numbers within the minors however hasn’t but been known as as much as the large leagues. A switch-hitter, he has proven good plate self-discipline expertise, usually strolling nearly as a lot as he strikes out. He can even present a little bit of pop and velocity. For the reason that begin of 2024, he has appeared in 160 Triple-A video games. In that point, he has 17 stolen bases, 23 residence runs, a 13.7% stroll price and a 15.9% strikeout price. His .259/.369/.447 batting line results in a wRC+ of 117. FanGraphs ranked him because the #78 prospect in all of baseball coming into this 12 months.
Defensively, he has performed all around the infield and a little bit of proper subject. Nonetheless, he’s not thought of particularly sturdy when it comes to his glovework, regardless of that versatility. This 12 months, he’s been stored at second and first base to date.
For now, Brito will probably be centered on rehabbing his thumb. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see the place he stands when he will get again. The Guards have been splitting their second base enjoying time between Gabriel Arias and Daniel Schneemann, who’re each enjoying effectively. Arias has a .270/.321/.486 line and 133 wRC+ whereas Schneemann is at .229/.308/.457 and a 123 wRC+. Bazzana is hitting effectively at Double-A, and it’s potential he may transfer to Triple-A and even the majors this 12 months.
For the Guards, they are going to have a bit much less infield depth for the approaching weeks, although they have already got plenty of infielders on the energetic roster. They’ve José Ramírez and Brayan Rocchio as their regulars at third and shortstop. Kyle Manzardo and Carlos Santana are sharing first base and the designated hitter spot. As talked about, Arias and Schneemann are masking second. Will Wilson can be on the roster as a bench infieler. Utility man Ángel Martínez is at the moment masking middle subject whereas Lane Thomas is injured, however he’s able to enjoying on the filth as effectively.
If one other harm pops up, the wholesome place gamers on the 40-man however not on the energetic roster are outfielders Will Brennan, Petey Halpin and Johnathan Rodríguez. If an infielder will get harm within the subsequent few months, maybe the membership would deliver up a type of outfielders and have Martínez transfer to the infield. Or maybe Bazzana will probably be in Triple-A and knocking on the door by then.
