Former Guardians Fan Favorite Wins World Series

Austin Hedges won the 2023 World Series with the Texas Rangers after leaving the Cleveland Guardians following the 2022 season.

Austin Hedges hasn't been on the Cleveland Guardians roster since the 2022 season ended. The organization moved on from him after the season as they searched for a more offensive-minded catcher.

Cleveland may not have been playing in the 2023 postseason, but Hedges made it there as a member of the Texas Rangers who won the World Series on Wednesday night. With that, the former Guardians fan favorite will have a ring ceremony in the near future.

Hedges came to Cleveland from San Diego as part of the Mike Clevinger deal. He made a name for himself in the city as a tremendous defensive catcher and being the pulse of the locker room. 

He'll never be the best player on the field, but you can't take away the impact that a positive presence has in a dugout. Hedges teammates even give him credit for the influence he has on their team. 

Rangers outfielder Travis Jankowski said this about his effect, “I know he’s getting a lot of notoriety right now for being a cheerleader, but that’s the lowest level of what he does for us … It’s a huge part of Austin as a player, yes, but it’s not close to all that he brings to a team.”

Oct 23, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Austin Hedges (11), pitcher Jose Leclerc (25) and catcher Jonah Heim (28) celebrate after winning game seven in the ALCS against the Houston Astros for the 2023 MLB playoffs at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports / © Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Guardians fans fell in love with Hedges for this same reason. Hedges is a ball of energy and he makes the game enjoyable for fans to watch while also doing the little things well on the field. 

One of Hedges' best moments was when he was reluctant to put a shirt on after Cleveland defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2022 ALDS.

Having a leader in the clubhouse is important and that doesn't always have to be the best player on the field. Hedges is proof of this and now he's a world champion too.

"Just pure joy," Hedges said in the midst of a Wednesday's celebration, "Pure joy that - you worked your whole life to get to a moment like this and to have it come to fruition. Man, I'm just so proud of these guys and I can't believe we're World Series champs."