CLEVELAND — In their first full regular season as the "Guardians," Cleveland's baseball team has come out victorious.
They eclipsed 90 wins this season and finished first place in the American League Central Division. They have the youngest team in Major League Baseball, with 17 players making their debut this year.
"We know that scouting and player development is really the lifeblood of our organization," assistant general manager Matt Forman says.
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Forman told 3News the young group of players are resilient. The Guardians get that resilience from their leader in the clubhouse: manager Terry Francona.
"He's a future Hall of Fame manager," Forman declared. "I think the leader that he is really sets the tone for our staff, our players, and creates an environment where everyone can be themselves."
Forman says "Tito" has preached the importance of playing the game "hard" and "the right way." According to the assistant GM, a major moment came when Francona took José Ramírez aside in spring training, letting the All-Star third baseman know he needed to be a leader for their younger players this season.
True to form, J-Ram leads the team in home runs as well as RBIs, all after signing the largest contract in franchise history. He, Francona, and the Guardians' front office have created a culture in Cleveland that battles together.
"This team plays a fun brand of baseball," Forman said.