The Guardians optioned Rocchio to Triple-A Columbus on Monday.
Rocchio was the Guardians' primary shortstop last season and began 2025 in the same role, but his playing time had fallen off considerably in recent weeks amidst a .165/.235/.198 slash line in his first 35 contests. Gabriel Arias has been seeing the lion's share of the reps at shortstop lately and will continue to serve as the main option at the position while Rocchio heads to Triple-A.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Back on bench as struggles continue
Rotowire
Rocchio is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
After he was held out of the lineup Tuesday and Wednesday, Rocchio drew starts at shortstop in each of the ensuing three contests, but he went 0-for-8 with four strikeouts in those games to bring his average down to .185 on the season. Now back on the bench Sunday, Rocchio looks like he may have to settle for a part-time role in the middle infield, as the Guardians have been prioritizing Gabriel Arias and Daniel Schneemann ahead of him.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Not in lineup Tuesday
Rotowire
Rocchio is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins.
Gabriel Arias will shift over to shortstop, and Daniel Schneemann is manning second base and batting seventh against Chris Paddack. Rocchio is 1-for-17 at the plate over the last seven days.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Not starting Game 1
Rotowire
Rocchio isn't in the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Red Sox, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
After going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in his last game, Rocchio will get a chance to regroup during the first half of Saturday's activities. Gabriel Arias will shift to shortstop as a result, opening up second base for Daniel Schneemann.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Out of Friday's lineup
Rotowire
Rocchio is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Red Sox.
The absence ends a stretch of five consecutive starts for Rocchio, who went 3-for-15 with a stolen base, three runs and one RBI during that stretch. Gabriel Arias will move to shortstop while Daniel Schneemann receives a start at the keystone.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Absent from Friday's lineup
Rotowire
Rocchio is not in the lineup for Friday's contest in Pittsburgh.
Rocchio isn't dealing with any known injury, but he's now been out of the lineup for two of the last three games. Gabriel Arias will get the call at shortstop for the Guardians while Angel Martinez handles second base.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: On base three times
Rotowire
Rocchio went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and a run scored in Thursday's 6-1 win over the White Sox.
Rocchio returned to the lineup after a routine day off Wednesday and delivered his second multi-hit game of the season. He hasn't done much offensively, batting just .231 with two extra-base hits, two runs scored and three RBI (all in one game) across 36 plate appearances.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Not in lineup Wednesday
Rotowire
Rocchio is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the White Sox.
Rocchio will get a routine day off after starting the previous four contests. Gabriel Arias will start at shortstop and Daniel Schneemann will handle second base for the Guardians.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Collects three RBI
Rotowire
Rocchio went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI in Friday's 8-6 win over the Angels. He was also caught stealing once.
Jose Ramirez was the star of the show with three home runs, but Rocchio was also pivotal to the victory with an RBI double in the second inning and a two-run single in the sixth. The 24-year-old switch hitter has started six of seven games at shortstop to begin the season, but he hasn't provided much offense with a .250/.318/.300 slash line in 22 plate appearances.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: First day off Wednesday
Rotowire
Rocchio is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in San Diego.
Rocchio will get his first day off of the season after going 3-for-15 with three singles in his first five contests. The Guardians will roll with Gabriel Arias at shortstop and Daniel Schneemann at second base for Wednesday's series finale.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Unable to build off spring
Rotowire
Rocchio went 0-for-2 and was hit by a pitch in Tuesday's 7-0 loss to San Diego.
Rocchio, who had a promising Cactus League season, has not carried that over into the regular season. Over 50 plate appearances this spring, the shortstop had an .828 OPS, which in retrospect was influenced by a .389 BABIP. Thus far through five regular-season contests, Rocchio is 3-for-15 (.231 BABIP) with one walk and one run.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Having strong spring
Rotowire
Rocchio went 2-for-3 in Saturday's spring game against San Diego.
Rocchio is showing signs of improvement at the plate during Cactus League play, slashing .450/.476/.650 with four doubles through eight spring games. That builds off a strong 2024 postseason in which the shortstop had a .906 OPS. The 24-year-old was a highly regarded prospect a few years ago, and while he may not provide much in the way of power, Rocchio defends well (five outs above average in 2024) at a premium position and doesn't need to be a five-category contributor to be an asset for the Guardians.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Taking seat Friday
Rotowire
Rocchio is not in the lineup for Friday's game in St. Louis.
Rocchio had started each of the last eight contests, but he'll get a day off for the series opener. Daniel Schneemann will hold down shortstop for the Guardians.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Registers steal in win
Rotowire
Rocchio went 0-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base in Monday's 5-3 win over the White Sox.
Rocchio has gone 7-for-18 (.389) with two home runs, five RBI and four walks over seven games in September. That has helped him gain a majority of the playing time at shortstop, though he still faces a small threat from Daniel Schneemann. Rocchio hit just .206 in August and is at a .214/.304/.328 slash line with eight homers, 10 steals, 32 RBI and 48 runs scored through 127 contests this season.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Plates four in victory
Rotowire
Rocchio went 1-for-1 with a home run, four RBI, two runs scored and a walk in Tuesday's 7-1 win over Kansas City.
The Cleveland shortstop opened the game's scoring in the second inning innocuously with a sacrifice fly. Rocchio then returned to blast a 372-foot, two-run homer off reliever Sam Long in the seventh before drawing a bases-loaded walk in the eighth to notch his first career four-RBI performance. The 23-year-old continues to play regularly at shortstop for the Guardians despite slashing .211/.298/.319 with seven homers, 46 runs scored and 31 RBI across 381 plate appearances, as his above-average glove keeps him in the lineup.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Not in Wednesday's lineup
Rotowire
Rocchio is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Royals.
Rocchio started two of the first three games of the series at shortstop but will begin the finale on the bench. Daniel Schneemann will hold down shortstop as the Guardians try to avoid the sweep.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Not in lineup for first game
Rotowire
Rocchio is absent from the lineup for the first game of Monday's doubleheader against the Royals.
The Guardians will go with Tyler Freeman at shortstop for the first game of the twin bill. Rocchio has typically seen most of the starts at shortstop against right-handed pitching of late and should be back in the lineup for the nightcap, when righty Alec Marsh is slated to start for the Royals.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: On bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Rocchio is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.
The Guardians have been rotating multiple players in at shortstop lately, with both Tyler Freeman and Daniel Schneemann having poached starts from Rocchio of late. Even though he's on the bench Tuesday, Rocchio may have helped himself earn a greater share of the playing time at shortstop after going 3-for-5 with a home run in Tuesday's win over New York.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Absent from lineup
Rotowire
Rocchio is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Brewers.
Rocchio will begin Friday's game in the dugout after going 1-for-7 with an RBI over his last two outings. Daniel Schneemann will start at shortstop and bat eight against Milwaukee right-hander Aaron Civale.
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Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Regaining playing time
Rotowire
Rocchio will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Cubs.
Rocchio has now started in three consecutive matchups with a right-handed pitcher and seems to have supplanted Daniel Schneemann -- who has hit the bench in two of those contests -- as the Guardians' preferred option at shortstop. While his .726 OPS since the beginning of August is a stark improvement over his season-long mark of .608, Rocchio's grip on an everyday role would still seem to be tenuous.
