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Guardians discuss difficulty of pinch-hitting as CJ Kayfus delivers
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- Guardians discuss difficulty of pinch-hitting as CJ Kayfus delivers
CLEVELAND — Many players will say that hitting a baseball thrown by a major league pitcher is the single toughest thing to do in all of sports. But that might only be half correct.
Doing so as a pinch-hitter, or in a non-regular role that requires coming off the bench in spurts to produce hits, might eclipse it in difficulty.
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It's what many hitters around the league must do if they're in any sort of bench or platoon role, often patiently waiting their turn and knowing only a handful of at-bats might be coming their way.
It can be a struggle to truly stay ready like an everyday player who can get into more of a rhythm. It can definitely be a struggle to not try to do too much with the limited opportunities you're afforded, which can be a dangerous mindset to fall into for a hitter.
CJ Kayfus isn't only not in an everyday role, he's the type of hitter of which the Guardians have the most abundance: left-handed hitting outfielders. The Guardians have so many they don't even really know what to do with them all, which means Kayfus and several others when healthy know there's plenty of competition.
Manager Stephen Vogt found himself in such a role at times as a player and has been able to pass along some sage advice for how to handle it.
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"Think the best advice I got was from [former outfielder] Sam Fuld ," Vogt said. "He said, 'No one's expecting you to go get a hit in that situation. It's the hardest thing to do. Just go take your at-bat, go compete your backside off, because no one's expecting you come up there and hit a home run or get a hit, because it's nearly impossible.'"
Cleveland Guardians' C.J. Kayfus (63) walks off the field after flying out to end the game against the Kansas City Royals on April 6, 2026, in Cleveland.
Since Vogt took over as Guardians manager before the 2024 season, Cleveland has often had multiple hitters in such a position with a lineup that has required a number of moving pieces, with several players shifting in and out of the batting order.
Many hitters then have to fight the urge to try to hit a three-run home run with nobody on base every at-bat. That doesn't help matters.
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"If you're [being a pinch hitter], you're being put in that position because we feel you're the best matchup for that moment. Go compete," Vogt said. "I think that takes some pressure off because so many times you can go, 'Oh man, I needed to get a hit there.' And it's like, 'Yeah, we'd love for you to get a hit there,' but we also understand that that's the hardest thing to do."
Cleveland Guardians' CJ Kayfus celebrates his solo home run with designated hitter Chase DeLauter (24) in the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs on April 5, 2026, in Cleveland.
CJ Kayfus stats
It's a role Kayfus thrived in during the second game of the April 5 doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs . Through 14 innings of baseball that day, Cleveland had totaled only a handful of hits in what had been a brutally slow offensive day. Kayfus entered as a pinch-hitter and went on to go 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs, lifting the Guardians to a 6-5 win .
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"I mean, we like to pinch hit, so I know when we're not starting, it's a big change you get in," Kayfus said. "Fourth inning on, when you think that the starter might be out of there, we're up in the cage hitting, getting ready, anticipating who's going to be the next pitcher up, and going over with the hitting coaches about their arsenal and how I guess the best approach going into the box to face them."
Kayfus is in a crowded group of left-handed hitting outfielders on Cleveland's 40-man roster , a list that when healthy also includes Steven Kwan , George Valera , Chase DeLauter and Petey Halpin , along with Nolan Jones , who was recently taken off the 40-man and cleared waivers.
On top of that, while Kayfus can also play first base, the Guardians have Kyle Manzardo and Rhys Hoskins signed, adding another layer of competition.
It means at-bats can be tough to come by, putting a premium on coming through when possible — even if the best advice is to focus on the opposite mindset. And it means that while Kayfus can be a contributor, he's also one of the best examples of being in one of the most difficult situations for a hitter, especially for one who is only 24 years old.
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"I mean, let's not forget, CJ was in college three years ago, right?" Vogt said. "Got to the big leagues, helped us on a good run and then found himself on a team where multiple people play the position you play. … We have a number of left-handed-hitting corner outfield/first basemen, so which pitchers are they best suited to face?"
Ryan Lewis covers the Cleveland Guardians and Cavaliers for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: CJ Kayfus delivers as pinch-hitter despite limited opportunities
