October is when unexpected postseason heroes emerge, like Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio.
Rocchio hit a three-run, walk-off home run in Cleveland’s final regular-season game against the Texas Rangers, an hour after the team won the American League Central. His clutch hitting has carried over into the postseason against the Detroit Tigers.
Rocchio’s big homer powered Guardians’ rally in Game 2 of ALWC
In the bottom of the eighth inning with the game tied 1-1, Rocchio crushed a 100 mph four-seam fastball from Tigers relief pitcher Troy Melton into right field for a 379-foot home run.
The Guardians then erupted. Second baseman Daniel Schneemann drove in left fielder Steven Kwan on an RBI double, and catcher Bo Naylor hit a three-run homer, sealing a 6-1 win.
Cleveland will host Detroit for Game 3 of the best-of-three series on Thursday. It aims to become the first team to win a wild-card series after losing Game 1 since Major League Baseball changed its playoff format in 2022. This would continue a miraculous season for Rocchio and company.
Rocchio symbolizes Guardians’ second-half surge
Like the Guardians — who trailed the Tigers by 15.5 games in the AL Central on July 8 — Rocchio caught fire in the second half of the season.
In May, Rocchio was demoted to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers after slashing .165/.235/.198 through his first 102 at-bats this season. Since being recalled on July 1, he’s been one of Cleveland’s more consistent hitters. During this span, the 24-year-old has posted a .257 batting average with 65 hits, five home runs and 36 RBI (via StatMuse).
“He’s been one of our best hitters since he’s come back. And for him to hit the walk-off, it’s super emblematic of our season,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said on the last day of the regular season, via Joe Reedy of the Associated Press. “We never quit. Every setback is an opportunity to get better, and Rocchio embodies that better than anybody.”
It would be fitting if Rocchio stepped up again in Game 3. The unexpected hero personifies Cleveland’s unbelievable season.
