Guardians Still Have Faith In Deyvison De Los Santos
One of the most intriguing storylines heading into spring training was how Cleveland Guardians Rule 5 selection Deyvison De Los Santos looked in big league camp. However, he hasn't been performing as maybe some envisioned.
De Los Santos has a slash line of his .208/.208/.208 in 10 games and 24 at-bats. Cleveland took a chance on him for his power, but Deyvison has recorded zero extra-base hits and only has one RBI so far.
Despite an underwhelming camp, Stephen Vogt has made it clear they aren't giving up on him just yet.
"I think he's going to get regular playing time that he has and obviously we're watching what he can do," said Vogt.
"I've been really pleased at his defense at first base. A lot of it too is just feeling comfortable and we're talking about someone who's got a lot of talent so we just need to let him play more. He's got 20-something plate appearances so it's hard to really make any concrete decisions on 20 plate appearances. He's going to continue to get regular playing time so we can see and let him progress into the full season as well."
Vogt continues to mention the raw talent that De Los Santos has and it's easy to see why. He's found success in the minor leagues and possesses the skillset that is exactly what the Guardians are missing on the roster.
Mar 3, 2024; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Cleveland Guardians first baseman Deyvison De Los Santos (70) tags Chicago Cubs Joe Hudson (57) in the third inning at Sloan Park.
© Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
However, the concerns remain. Deyvison has yet to show in spring training he's ready to consistently face off against big-league pitching. The issue here is that if De Los Santos doesn't make the major league roster then the Guardians have to offer him back to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Even with all this in mind, it certainly does seem Vogt and the organization still believe De Los Santos can be a major contributor this season.
