SAN FRANCISCO -- It was around this time last season when Daniel Schneemann received his first taste of the big leagues after six years of grinding through the Minors. A year later, he has established himself as a key cog for the Guardians, for whom he continues to be a revelation.
It’s moments such as what we saw in the fourth inning on Wednesday that continue to show why. Schneemann launched a three-run homer off right-hander Justin Verlander, which proved to be the difference-making swing in the Guardians’ 4-2 win over the Giants at Oracle Park. For Cleveland, the win also snapped a streak of four straight series losses.
“We've seen it over the last year and a half,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “Schnee’s got opposite-field power.”
Schneemann singled in his first plate appearance against Verlander, on a ball that deflected off first baseman Wilmer Flores. The Guardians led 1-0 in the fourth when he fell behind Verlander 0-2, after swinging and missing at a changeup over the plate and a curveball down and in.
In that spot, Schneemann said he was looking to see the ball a bit deeper into the zone. Verlander delivered a four-seamer, and the 94.1 mph offering was right over the heart of the plate. Schneemann hit it a Statcast-projected 103.4 mph and 394 feet to left-center field.
“I think it just had something to do with me trying to see the ball deep,” Schneemann said of hitting the ball with authority the other way. “It kind of gives me confidence, knowing that I can keep my approach to the middle and still do damage to the middle of the field. So definitely a confidence booster.”
Schneemann overhauled his offensive approach after the 2022 season, when he was 25 and largely spent the year in Double-A. Part of that adjustment included him focusing on driving the ball in the air to the middle of the field more. The homer off Verlander was a solid example of the fruits of his labor.
It also was the latest example of how big Schneemann continues to be for Cleveland. He made the Guardians’ Opening Day roster this season in a utility role, and he’s played six positions (each outfield spot, second and third base and shortstop). He’s also found a home at second base, where 37 of his 47 starts have come this year.
The 28-year-old is now slashing .248/.330/.446 with eight homers in 56 games this season. Last year, he slashed .218/.303/.368 with five homers in 73 games.
“He's just been such a big spotlight on this team this year, going from starting the year as a utility guy,” Vogt said. “Through the course of the year, things happen, and now he's playing a great second base. He's still one of our best outfielders defensively and has really been a big spark plug with the bat, and really in the middle of that lineup has been pretty stable for us.
“Schnee’s a really good ballplayer, and he’s been showing it.”
The home run swing was enough for starter Logan Allen, who allowed two runs on four hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings. From there, Matt Festa, Cade Smith, Tim Herrin and Emmanuel Clase pitched a shutout in relief.
Allen slid into the bullpen for one turn through the rotation, when the Guardians needed length, and pitched in relief on May 31 vs. the Angels. Since slotting back in as a starter on June 6, he has gone six innings twice, and over his past two outings has allowed just four total runs.
“I feel like my stuff’s been pretty good,” Allen said. “I feel like I’ve been on a good attack, been on the same page with the catchers. Just going out there and executing, trying to stay efficient, just trying to go right after guys and be as efficient as possible. Try to get as deep into the game as I can.”
The Guardians are now 6-9 in June, but they’ve had a good response to a rough series in Seattle, when they were swept, walked off once and scored five runs over three games.
“It was a little bit of a reset for us, right?” Vogt said. “We haven't played the best over the last few weeks, win- and loss-wise. … I really felt like we're trending, and this team's capable of winning every single night out. We're just going to keep plugging one day at a time. One day at a time, one win at a time, get better and better every day.”