Daniel Schneemann has already made himself invaluable to the Guardians by being able to move all over the diamond, and now there’s at least a chance he could pick up one more position before the season is over.
The utilityman has spent his three-year MLB career at second base, third base, shortstop and all three outfield spots, giving manager Stephen Vogt the kind of flexibility that can change a game plan in a hurry. His bat may ebb and flow, but his glove has kept him in the mix, and Cleveland clearly trusts him to handle just about anything asked of him.
First base, though, is the new wrinkle. It’s not a firm assignment or some long-term switch, but it is something the Guardians have quietly explored.
MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins reported that Schneemann has “done some work behind the scenes for that possibility, even if it’s just for an emergency situation. He worked out at first base following his July 24 option to Triple-A Columbus and has periodically since Cleveland recalled him to the Majors on Sept.
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Vogt admitted that the late-July move was “very, very hard” on him, but Schneemann has since earned his way back and is trying to help however he can during the stretch run. That sort of versatility is exactly what keeps a player in the lineup conversation.
Schneemann, for his part, has leaned into the joke. He said he hopes he can “just get at least one inning [at first base] this year so I can be like, ‘Oh yeah, I’ve played seven positions.’”
There’s a real reason the idea isn’t far-fetched. Schneemann has the athleticism and discipline to give Cleveland at least passable defense at first, even if he knows it would be a different challenge from the other infield spots he’s already handled. Vogt didn’t shut the door on it either.
“Especially as we get deeper into the season, there’s times you have to make maybe one more move to try to win the game,” he said. “It’s just to make sure in an emergency he can go over there.”
If the Guardians need him there, they know where to find him. Schneemann has been strongest in the outfield this year, where he owns six Defensive Runs Saved in 230 innings, and he’s also been a steady option at second base. Whether first base becomes part of the résumé is still uncertain, but Cleveland is leaving the possibility open.
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Cleveland left with a 5-2 win, a boost to 75-73 and a better seat in the postseason picture, thanks to a seventh-inning breakthrough and a bullpen that finished the job. For the Twins, it was the sort of loss that stings beyond one night, because a strong start was there and the result still slipped away once the game moved into the later innings. [Read more 🡒]