Guardians manager heaps praise on often-overlooked key lineup piece

WASHINGTON, DC — Daniel Schneemann may not be the first name you think of when you consider the potential superstars on the Cleveland Guardians roster. However, manager Stephen Vogt believes that what the former 33rd-round draft pick has done in 2025 has been key to Cleveland's early success. "He's just been hitting the ball hard," Vogt said of Schneemann, who came in Monday's scheduled road opener against the Washington Nationals batting .

372 over his last 17 games. "With Schnee, he's been taking his walks as well. With Schnee, we know he can hit fastballs.



The whole world knows he can hit fastballs, but you don't get fastballs unless you're spitting on the off-speed or fouling it off and working counts. I have loved the way Schnee has been playing overall, but his at-bat quality and the way he's just been hitting the ball hard as well." Since April 13, Schneemann's 1.

123 OPS is the sixth-highest in all of baseball (minimum 40 plate appearances). He's also been making an impact late in the game for the Guardians, hitting .389 with three home runs after the sixth inning.

That clutch number includes a go-ahead grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning on May 3 against the Toronto Blue Jays that pushed the Guardians to a 5-3 win. Daniel Schneemann's 2nd home run of the day is a GRAND SLAM to take the lead in the 9th! pic.twitter.

com/PuVyuvhy4Y So far this season, Schneemann has played five different positions (second base, third base and all three outfield spots) after getting starts at six different spots last year (the five listed previously plus shortstop). That versatility is a plus not only for Cleveland's roster, but also helps Schneemann stay in the lineup and stay consistent at the plate, Vogt said. "A lot of players, especially someone like Schnee, they keep getting better.

And that's what we see with Schnee is the consistency," Vogt said. "It's the ability to repeat things every day. Schnee is working hard defensively, offensively, on his body and everything to keep him going.

It's been really fun to watch." Expect to see more of Schneemann's versatility on display on Tuesday as Monday's stormy weather in the nation's capitol forced the Guardians into a doubleheader for the next day. All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

A member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), Kevin Henry has been covering MLB and MiLB for nearly two decades. Those assignments have included All-Star Games and the MLB postseason, including the World Series. Based in the Denver area, Kevin calls Coors Field his home base, but travels throughout North America during the season to discover the best stories possible.