Juan Brito can bring an offensive boost to the Cleveland Guardians' lineup, but that starts with figuring out where he'll play on defense.
Juan Brito could have made his big-league debut in 2025 if it weren’t for a pair of injuries that limited him to just 31 minor league games throughout the season.
Where does that leave one of the Cleveland Guardians' most promising prospects as he heads into spring training?
The Guardians have a plan in place to get Brito’s bat into the lineup and see what he can do during training camp, and possibly what type of production he could give the team.
Even though it’s Brito’s offense that is encouraging, getting his bat in the lineup starts on the defensive end.
“Juan's main position is second base, but he's been working at first and third as well. So you're going to see him in all three spots throughout the spring,” explained manager Stephen Vogt.
“I don't know how much outfield he's going to play, but he has the ability to go into right field. Just like a lot of our players, we want as much defensive flexibility, versatility as we can. So we just don't know how the season's gonna shake out.”
Apr 3, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Clippers third baseman Juan Brito (24) warms up prior to the Opening Day game against the Omaha Storm Chasers at Huntington Park.Brito certainly has some defensive versatility, but he’s never been a standout in run prevention. What has raised some eyebrows is his ability to impact the ball.
In his Minor League career, Brito owns a .831 OPS, which has consistent at just about every level he’s played out. Another intriguing piece to Brito’s game is that he’s switch hitter, and it’s no secret the Guardians need more options against left-handed pitching.
“The switch-hitting ability, the offensive profile, we're really excited about, and he's a really good athlete that can play multiple positions.”
Vigt made no promises on what Brito's potential role at the big-league level could look like in 2026. However, Cleveland’s skipper reiterated a message that he's been consistent with since taking over as the team’s manager: if you can play multiple positions, you have a better chance at getting in the lineup.
“When you have experience at multiple positions, it creates an opportunity to get your bat in the lineup more often. Obviously, if Juan Brito can play all of those roles, it’s beneficial for him and for us.”
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