Austin Hedges played an important role for the Guardians last season, not just as a backup catcher with limited offense, but also as a mentor, adviser, jokester, and leader in the clubhouse.
He’ll continue that leadership role for Cleveland.
On Wednesday, Hedges agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal to return to the Guardians, the AL Central champions. Cleveland credited Hedges’ leadership for being a key part of the team’s surprising success in 2024.
The Guardians took first place in April and stayed there throughout the season, finishing with a 92-69 record. They won the AL Central under rookie manager Stephen Vogt.
Cleveland then beat Detroit in a close Division Series before falling to the New York Yankees in five games in the American League Championship Series.
Hedges was a key connection between manager Vogt and the team, especially with several injuries to the pitching staff early in the season. The 32-year-old also mentored young catcher Bo Naylor during Naylor’s first full season in the majors and played in eight of Cleveland’s 10 postseason games.
Hedges said he became the kind of player every team needs by adapting to his situation.
“Well, it kind of all started with not hitting very well,” he joked, reflecting on his career as a .186 hitter over 10 major league seasons.
Hedges found his value in being a player that younger teammates could rely on, and in doing so, made himself an important part of the team.
“I had to look myself in the mirror and be like, how am I going to stay in the game?” he said. “Because I don’t want to go back to the minor leagues. I don’t want to get another job. I love the big leagues. I love playing in the big leagues. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted in life.”
Hedges had already shown interest in coming back to Cleveland during his exit interviews, and the Guardians felt the same way.
“He’s not just the mascot. This is a really good player,” Vogt said after the season. “He’s so much more to us than what any outside source can see. He helps us get better. He helps me get better. He challenges the coaching staff. He challenges his teammates and he brings the energy every single day.
“And, he’s a very, very good major league baseball player. You don’t stay in the league as long as he’s been here by accident.”
Hedges played for Cleveland from 2020-2022 before re-signing with the Guardians for $4 million last season. He spent 2023 with Pittsburgh and Texas, where he won a World Series title. He believes the Guardians are on the right path to winning one as well.
“We have a road map now for what to do,” Hedges said. “We had an idea of what the road map looked like after 2022, but now we know exactly what it takes to get to the World Series and what it’s going to take to then win that thing.
“So for us, we don’t have to change much.”
The Guardians went 26-20 in games that Hedges started. While he struggled at the plate, his experience allowed him to start in the playoffs, and he also came in late to some key postseason games to replace Naylor in high-pressure situations.
Before joining Cleveland, Hedges spent over five seasons with San Diego after being traded to the Guardians during the 2020 season.
