Rocchio's improved defense highlights key part of Guardians' success

TORONTO -- Brayan Rocchio stormed in on a ball in the second inning.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was chugging up the first-base line as the Guardians' shortstop reached the bouncing grounder, which was seemingly destined for an infield hit. Instead, Rocchio flashed down with his right hand, barehanded the baseball and fired a line across the diamond to steal an out.

The leather-flashing flare Rocchio showed in Saturday’s 5-0 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre has become increasingly common for the 23-year-old as he works to ascend among the game’s best defenders.

“He’s got a lot of confidence out there,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “It’s just really fun to watch.”

Rocchio’s 2024 season didn’t start with defensive perfection. The young shortstop committed two errors in his first seven games, matching his MLB error totals from his first Major League season as early as Opening Week. But since then, Rocchio has added just one more, and he hasn't committed an error in 29 straight games. His three Outs Above Average ranked in MLB's 89th percentile entering Saturday, and his fielding run value of two put him in the 77th percentile.

Alongside the rest of Cleveland’s infield defense -- which includes two-time Gold Glover Andrés Giménez -- Rocchio takes to the dirt before every game to receive pregame grounders and run defensive drills with third-base coach Rouglas Odor and Major League field coordinator Kai Correa. Both Vogt and Rocchio credit the regular work with those coaches for the shortstop's rapid improvement in the field.

“Working every day, going out and practicing with [Odor] and [Correa], that's the key for staying strong in my defense,” Rocchio said.

When Rocchio made a brilliant play in Friday’s win over the Blue Jays, stabbing at a hard-hit ball on his backhand and firing a long toss across the diamond for an out, Correa and Odor celebrated together in the road dugout, slapping each other's arms as the out was recorded. Improved play on his backhand is where Vogt has seen Rocchio’s biggest strides.

“Our staff, we care so deeply for our players and love their success,” Vogt said. “And to watch what Rocchio has done, he's a top shortstop in the league, defensively, right now. And it's not by accident.”

Saturday wasn’t complete defensive bliss, though. In the bottom of the fifth, Rocchio dove on a Guerrero grounder deep in the hole and blocked it on the dirt, preventing Toronto catcher Danny Jansen from going from first to third. But, as Rocchio turned to fire the ball to second for an out, there was a momentary bobble that prevented another highlight-reel moment. The play was ruled a base hit, no error for Rocchio.

“That would have been an unbelievable play, had he made it” Vogt said. “He fumbled the transfer, which happens on a diving play. It would have been an incredible play, but he still just continues to amaze us.”

The infielder had another chance to shine just a few innings later.

With one out in the eighth frame, Rocchio snared a bouncing grounder off the bat of Justin Turner. While Giménez hovered by second base to turn the double play, Rocchio took the ball himself, rushing to second for the first out before firing to first to end the inning.

It’s that slick fielding, from more guys than just Rocchio, that allows Cleveland’s pitchers to “trust the defense,” Vogt said before Saturday’s game. Great glovework does more than just steal a few hits and save runs. It elevates a squad’s entire run-prevention strategy.

Despite Carlos Carrasco's five runs allowed over five innings, the Guardians finished Saturday’s contest with the fifth-best team ERA in the Majors (3.43). The defense certainly deserves a bit of credit for that mark, and an improving Rocchio is a big part of it.

“Our defense has been phenomenal all year,” Vogt said. “It's a big reason why we're in the position we are.”