Daniel Schneemann is back in Cleveland, and the Guardians have a much clearer picture of how he fits.
After five weeks in Triple-A Columbus, Schneemann returned to the active roster Tuesday as a September call-up, bringing with him a reset that was built on regular playing time, a swing tune-up and a healthier headspace.
“This is where I want to be,” Schneemann said. “Felt like I went down, learned a lot of things, really enjoyed playing, so I’m just glad to be back.”
The demotion came July 24, after a rough stretch at the plate had dragged him down to .135 (5-for-37) in 13 July games. The skid had been going on even longer than that. Since May 16, Schneemann had hit .152 (21-for-138) across 46 games.
Columbus changed the rhythm for him in a hurry. In 25 games there, Schneemann hit .326 (30-for-92) with 10 doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI and 32 runs. He also posted a .457 on-base percentage, drew 23 walks and moved around the diamond.
Just as important, he got the chance to sort out what had been going wrong.
“There’s things I do well, there’s things I don’t do well,” Schneemann said. ”Going down there, focusing on each of those things, improving on them, I felt like I did that.”
Part of the adjustment was understanding how big league pitchers were attacking him.
“I know it’s a lot of offspeed, but I know I do damage on the heater,” Schneemann said. “It’s just trying to continue to hit the heater well while also doing damage on offspeed to try to earn some more heaters.”
He also said the time away helped him stop pressing.
“It’s always tough to make in-season adjustments,” Schneemann said. “Obviously never want to get sent down, but I really think there were a lot of things that helped me get back to where I know I am and just enjoying the game again and not putting so much pressure on myself.
“I really think it was a blessing in disguise.”
Back in Cleveland, Schneemann may not get the kind of steady at-bats he saw in Columbus. His biggest value now is his flexibility.
A Gold Glove finalist at the utility spot last season, Schneemann has played six positions for Cleveland this year and can handle seven. He has seven defensive runs saved in center field and six outs above average overall.
That kind of versatility is exactly what Stephen Vogt has been missing.
“We know what Daniel can bring us defensively,” Vogt said. “He can play seven positions, he can step in and start for anybody. He can come into any game and we automatically upgrade defensively.”
Vogt said the Guardians have been “pretty constrained as far as versatility the last couple months.” Schneemann gives him another piece to work with, whether that means a spot start, a pinch-running job or a late-game defensive switch.
Schneemann understands the role may be limited.
“I’m going to try to help the team win any way I can,” he said. “Whether that’s getting a start here and there, whether it’s coming in to pinch run, defensive late, whatever it is, I’m just here to do my role and try to help the team win.”
After five weeks in Columbus, he’s back with a different outlook - and, he believes, a different version of himself.
“The biggest thing really is just trying to get confidence again and enjoy the game,” he said. “I feel like that’s what I did.”
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Instead, Cleveland is taking a cautious path with Velazquez, and the reasoning appears tied to bigger-picture concerns about how a potential MLB lockout next season could affect his development. The choice has already drawn some second-guessing, mostly because Velazquez is at a stage where every opportunity matters and the immediate upside is hard to ignore. For now, the Guardians are betting on patience, even if the decision leaves plenty of room for debate about when the next chance will come. [Read more 🡒]