For the past three seasons, Juan Brito has been honing his skills in the minor leagues for the Guardians. Acquired in the trade that sent Nolan Jones to the Rockies, Brito showcased his potential with a .271 batting average in 2023 across various minor league levels.
Fast forward a year, and Brito posted a .256 average over 144 games at Triple-A, setting the stage for what many anticipated would be a breakout 2025 season.
However, injuries sidelined Brito, limiting him to just 31 games in the minors due to a thumb injury and a hamstring strain.
Now, Brito is back, healthy, and ready to make his mark. He made a compelling case on Thursday by launching a powerful home run against the Mariners in a spring training game.
His homer was a sight to behold, leaving the bat at 101 miles per hour and traveling 401 feet. It's the kind of power the Guardians have been missing from their middle infielders in recent years.
Last season, the Guardians opted for Gabriel Arias and Brayan Rocchio in their middle infield, and they might do the same this year since Arias is out of minor league options.
Fortunately, the Guardians have an extra option year for Brito, allowing them to keep him in the minors if he doesn’t make the team out of camp.
Complicating matters further is top prospect Travis Bazzana, who isn’t on the 40-man roster but has impressed this spring and is set to play for Australia in the World Baseball Classic.
The Guardians avoided signing big league position players last offseason, banking on their internal talent pool, which includes Brito.
Despite being on the Guardians’ 40-man roster for three years, Brito has yet to make his MLB debut. That could very well change in 2026, as he continues to push for a spot on the roster.