Guardians Shortstop Gabriel Arias to IL with Ankle Sprain

Brayan Rocchio Recalled as Replacement

The Cleveland Guardians face a setback as shortstop Gabriel Arias landed on the injured list due to an ankle sprain. This injury occurred before Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Cubs, prompting a roster move for the team. Brayan Rocchio has been called up from Triple-A Columbus to fill the void.

Injury Details and Manager’s Assessment

Arias suffered the injury during Sunday’s game versus the St. Louis Cardinals, after which he was carted off the field. Though initial X-rays were negative, an MRI confirmed a moderate ankle sprain. Manager Stephen Vogt expressed relief, stating, “It looks like we got pretty lucky.”

Guardians place Gabriel Arias on the 10-day IL. Brayan Rocchio has been recalled from Triple-A Columbus. https://t.co/G401XyKk2p

— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) June 10, 2024

“It looks like a moderate ankle sprain. So we’ll have more information on him when we get back [to Cleveland on Friday], but it sounds like he avoided some major injury, which is great.”

—Stephen Vogt, Manager

The impact of this injury could be significant, as the average MLB team loses approximately 10-12 games per season due to injuries to key players (MLB Injury Report, 2024).

Performance and Replacement

Arias, in his first full season as a starter, has batted .231 with six home runs and 31 RBIs through 77 games. The injury occurred when Arias, fielding a grounder, caught his left spike on the grass. He then awkwardly rolled his ankle.

Rocchio, who began the season with the Guardians, was optioned to Triple-A in May. In 41 games with Columbus, he hit .252, with seven home runs and 30 RBIs. He is now set to replace Arias at shortstop.