Austin Hedges has had a surprisingly strong season at the plate for the Cleveland Guardians.
The Cleveland Guardians had a good idea of the player they were bringing back when they re-signed Austin Hedges last winter. At least, the front office thought it knew what type of impact the veteran catcher would provide.
Hedges has always been known throughout his career as an elite defensive backstop, and that’s critical to have for creating a positive locker room culture, and he’s been just that for the Guardians in 2026.
However, the 35-year-old is also in the middle of an unexpected breakout season with what he’s been able to do with the bat in his hand.
Before the 2026 season, Hedges’ highest OPS throughout his career was .711 during the 2018 campaign. This year, Hedges is on track to have a career-best .735 OPS, and that’s with the right-hander starting to cool off at the plate over the last few weeks after an incredibly hot start.
But on Monday night against the Los Angeles Angels, it was Hedges’ two-run opposite-field home run that sealed the win for Cleveland.
Perhaps the biggest difference in 2026 Hedges from years past is that he simply isn’t striking out as much and is making much better contact with pitches in the zone. Hedges only has a strikeout rate of 16.6 percent this year, which is the best of his career so far.
Aug 24, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges (27) is greeted after hitting a two run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn ImagesBy the stats alone, this breakout season has really come as a surprise from the outside looking in, especially for someone at Hedges’ point in his career.
However, manager Stephen Vogt insists that everything that’s transpired on the field is a credit to what he does behind the scenes.
“Hedgey works so hard on his offense, and he's committed to his plan,” Cleveland’s skipper said. “When you get a pitch like that up in the zone and get the barrel to it, good things happen.
Hedges said that the key to his success at the plate this year has been “Commitment. Commitment. Commitment.”
“It's a day-in-and-day-out thing, but my whole career I haven't committed. I try one thing one day, don't get a hit, try another thing another day, and just a constant cycle, downward spiral, always searching,” explained Hedges.
“I just made the decision in September last year: I'm not going to do that. I'm going to do my secret.”
Hedges wouldn’t share what that “secret” is, but whatever it is, the Guardians hitter is reaping the rewards and proving a player is never too late in their career to put it all together in the batter’s box.
