TAMPA, Fla. — The days of a fixed nine-player lineup in Major League Baseball are long gone, replaced by more strategic emphasis on positional versatility that has fundamentally changed how the game is managed.
Guardians skipper Stephen Vogt explained prior to Friday’s game against the Rays why modern baseball demands players that can handle multiple positions.
“You look at the game 10, 15 years ago, it was, you have your nine guys, they go play every day, and then you have your bench players,” Vogt said. “But what we’ve learned is, this (positional versatility) is how the game is played now.”
According to Vogt, two key factors have driven this shift: player endurance limitations and the increasing dominance of specialized pitching.
“In today’s game, very few people can actually handle an everyday workload,” Vogt explained. “And the pitching has gotten so good that we have drastic splits.”
These “drastic splits” — significant performance differences against right-handed versus left-handed pitchers — create a chess match between managers trying to gain matchup advantages throughout the game. This strategic element has made versatile players more valuable than ever.
“The more positions guys can play, the more opportunities there are to put everyone in the lineup who’s swinging the bat well,” Vogt said. “And it allows you to make in-game moves.”
The Guardians exemplify this approach with players like Jhonkensy Noel, who started at first base on Friday.
“He’s always been a good first baseman,” Vogt noted. “He’s been playing a lot of first base in Triple-A the last few months. And he’s such a good athlete, really good over there.”
Flexibility like that allows Vogt and Cleveland’s coaches to optimize both offensive and defensive alignments throughout a game. Vogt referenced the benefits of having multi-positional players such as Daniel Schneemann and Angel Martínez on the roster.
“When you have to match up late in games like we do, the more versatility you have to put a defensive unit out there, it allows you to make all kinds of different moves,” he said.
Physical demands on modern players also contribute to the need for versatility. Today’s major leaguers face more intensive preparation and practice routines than their predecessors.
“We practice more now than they did back in that time, and we just do a lot more throughout the day,” Vogt said. “There’s a lot more wear and tear.”
This evolution represents a significant shift in baseball philosophy. Rather than having specialists who excel at a single position, teams like the Guardians now value players who can competently handle multiple defensive assignments while trying to maintain a level of offensive production.
As pitching continues to dominate and analytical approaches refine understanding of matchup advantages, the trend toward versatility shows no signs of reversing. The modern baseball player must be adaptable, ready to shift positions based on daily matchups and in-game situations.
For managers like Vogt, this versatility doesn’t just provide tactical options — it has become a necessity for competing.
More surgery for Will Brennan
Will Brennan went back under the knife this week to address ongoing groin symptoms and a sports hernia. The surgery was performed in Philadelphia by Dr. William Myers. Brennan, who had Tommy John surgery in early June, was rehabbing in Arizona when symptoms developed.
“It was bothering him at the same time that he had the first surgery,” Vogt said. “The doctors and medical staff felt that with the time off, it would improve, but it just wasn’t doing so.”
According to the club, Brennan is scheduled to return to Goodyear, Arizona, in the coming days to continue his rehabilitation and is expected to be a full participant in spring training in 2026.
Finally
Left-hander John Means was scratched from his scheduled rehab start for Triple-A Columbus on Friday. Vogt said Means was “under the weather” and that the Guardians are hoping he feels better on Saturday … Outfielder Lane Thomas made a rehab start at designated hitter on Friday for Double-A Akron. Thomas was slated to play nine innings and then start in the field on Saturday … Guardians starting pitchers have worked at least five innings in 14 of the club’s last 16 games since August 18 … Steven Kwan leads Major League Baseball with a career-high 12 outfield assists accounting for 36.3% of the Guardians MLB-leading 33 outfield assists. His 17 defensive runs saved lead all AL outfielders … Entering play Friday, Kyle Manzardo had driven in a run in three straight games against Tampa Bay.
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