As spring training approaches, the Cleveland Guardians are signaling a clear shift in strategy: lean into the youth movement and inject some much-needed life into a lineup that struggled to consistently produce runs last season. Two names already generating buzz-Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana-could be in the Opening Day lineup. But there's another name to keep an eye on, and it’s one that’s been quietly climbing the ladder in Cleveland’s system for years: Juan Brito.
At 24, Brito isn’t the shiny new toy like DeLauter or Bazzana, but he might be just as important to the Guardians’ 2026 plans. The switch-hitting utility man has been on the organization’s radar for a while, and this could finally be the year he breaks through to the big leagues.
Brito’s offensive profile is built on consistency and versatility. Across six seasons in the minors, he’s posted a .273/.382/.449 slash line-a balanced mix of contact, plate discipline, and gap power.
He’s not a one-dimensional player either. Last year alone, he saw time at second base, first base, and right field in the minors, and he continued that trend during winter ball with Toros del Este in the Dominican Republic.
That kind of positional flexibility is a manager’s dream, especially for a team like Cleveland that’s still figuring out the right mix on the roster.
Injuries have slowed Brito’s path to the majors-thumb surgery and a hamstring issue limited him to just 24 games at Triple-A last season. But when he was healthy in 2024, he showed what he’s capable of.
Over 144 games with Columbus, he slugged 21 home runs and posted an .808 OPS. That’s the kind of production the Guardians are desperate to add to a lineup that finished near the bottom of the league in several offensive categories last year.
DeLauter and Bazzana are expected to make an immediate impact. DeLauter, who got his first taste of MLB action during the 2025 postseason, brings power and athleticism to the outfield.
Bazzana, the top pick in the 2024 draft, is a high-upside second baseman with a polished bat. But prospects don’t always hit the ground running, and that’s where Brito’s value really comes into focus.
If either of the rookies struggles early-or if injuries create an opening-Brito is a prime candidate to step in. He’s also a potential answer if the Guardians don’t get the offensive production they’re hoping for from shortstops Gabriel Arias or Brayan Rocchio. With Brito’s ability to move around the diamond, he gives Cleveland flexibility not just in terms of roster construction, but in-game strategy as well.
The Guardians were granted a fourth minor league option on Brito due to his injury-plagued 2025, which gives them some breathing room to ease him into the season. But make no mistake-he’s firmly in the mix. Whether it’s Opening Day or sometime shortly after, Brito’s debut feels inevitable.
For a team trying to turn the page and build a sustainable contender, Juan Brito might not just be a depth piece-he could be a key part of the solution.