Guardians spring training 2023: The top 5 storylines to watch this spring camp

CLEVELAND — Baseball is back.

While the temperatures take a nose dive into the 30s (and hopefully only the 30s) in Northeast Ohio, the Guardians are set to begin their 2023 spring camp in Goodyear, Arizona.

It'll be more difficult for the Guardians to sneak up on anybody this year after a 92-win season and an American League Central Division crown in 2022 while deploying the youngest roster in baseball.

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The Guardians had a straightforward postseason, addressing their two biggest needs on the roster — first base and catcher — with Josh Bell and Mike Zunino. And after 17 MLB debuts in 2022, which tied a franchise record that has stood for roughly a century, the 40-man roster is brimming with players who could make an impact in 2023 and get their first taste of the big leagues.

As things get underway in Arizona and Florida, here's a look at the top storylines to follow in Guardians camp this spring.

Where does Bo Naylor begin the season, and how healthy is Mike Zunino?

Questions still remain about the Guardians' catcher situation. Zunino was brought in to maintain a certain level of defensive value — Austin Hedges was elite, but Zunino can hold his own — while also adding some potential pop to the lineup. Zunino has a 30-homer season in the majors under his belt, but he also had his 2022 cut short due to shoulder surgery.

Guardians manager Terry Francona noted this winter the team is comfortable with his defensive abilities, even if that 30-homer power isn't there. If it is, it's a major bonus for a lineup that relied heavily on contact in 2022, albeit in a successful way.

The starting catcher job is Naylor's to have at some point down the road — the question is when? Naylor is the club's top catching prospect who last year put together a 20-homer, 20-steals season in the minor leagues, a rare feat for his position. But with Zunino in the fold, it's entirely possible Naylor spends the first several weeks in Triple-A before being called up and potentially taking over a large role in Cleveland.

Naylor brings a different skillset to the table and could have a presence once called up. He'll also be representing Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, so he'll be away from camp for a few weeks.

If Naylor does open the season in Columbus, the Guardians have several options in camp who could serve as Zunino's backup, provided he's healthy. Bryan Lavastida, who made his debut a year ago, is the lone option already on the 40-man roster, so he likely has the inside track.

How will pitchers adjust to the new MLB rule changes for 2023 (and will James Karinchak defeat the pitch clock)?

Three major rule changes will be implemented this season, which means for many players this spring will be an adjustment period. There will now be a pitch clock to speed up the game, defensive infield shifts are banned and bases are now larger.

The pitch clock will have the most impact on pitchers with lengthier between-pitch routines, and that especially means James Karinchak, who tosses the ball, rubs his hair and adjusts his cap repeatedly. If anybody has to make a significant adjustment, it's Karinchak.

The larger bases could benefit the Guardians, who last year stole the third-most bases in the majors, led by Myles Straw, Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez, all of whom stole at least 20. Baserunners and catchers know that every fraction of a second counts, and the larger bases could tilt many of the bang-bang plays to the runner.

Hitters like Bell believe the outlaw of defensive shifts could benefit them, as many hard-hit balls to the right side might fall for hits instead of being a routine out. Teams could potentially get around the rule change with a severe alteration of their outfield alignment, but it remains to be see how daring teams get this season.

After 17 debuts in 2022, who has a hot spring to make some of the end-of-camp decisions more difficult?

There are always players who stand out in spring training and effectively force their way into the team's opening day plans. Although spring stats aren't the end-all, be-all, there are players who perform well enough to at least make it a difficult decision.

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Sometimes, like with Logan Allen a few years ago, it doesn't translate to the regular season. Sometimes, like with Steven Kwan last year, it leads to one of the best debut weeks in baseball history.

Brayan Rocchio has had a positive showing before as one of the many middle infield prospects in the Guardians system (Angel Martinez, Juan Brito and Jose Tena are also names to watch). George Valera, one of the top 35-ranked prospects in baseball, could make a major impact in 2023, and has a chance to move up that timeline a bit with a strong spring. Daniel Espino, Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee might be a ways from the majors, but the team will surely be intrigued to see what they do this spring.

Who emerges as starting pitching depth after the top five in the rotation?

The Guardians, again, have a clear top five group for the starting rotation, unless something goes awry in the desert. After Shane Bieber, Triston McKenzie, Cal Quantrill, Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac, likely in that order, the Guardians have a number of youthful arms to sort through, including Xzavion Curry, Cody Morris, Konnor Pilkington, Logan Allen (the other one), Joey Cantillo, Peyton Battenfield, Hunter Gaddis and the newly claimed Jason Bilous.

That's before considering Espino, Williams and Bibee behind them as top-100 prospects making their way up the ladder to the majors.

In addition to starting pitching depth in Triple-A and Double-A (and the logjam that has been created), there's also the question of whether one of those players opens the season in the Guardians bullpen. As it stands, Emmanuel Clase, Karinchak, Trevor Stephan, Eli Morgan, Enyel De Los Santos, Nick Sandlin and Sam Hentges should have the first seven spots locked down, potentially leaving room for one more.

Do the Guardians announce any extensions between now and opening day, and is Shane Bieber one of them?

A year ago, the Guardians announced three extensions, all potentially through the 2028 season, including Jose Ramirez with the largest contract ever handed out in franchise history. Straw and Clase were also signed long term.

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The Guardians have a number of players who could be extension targets, as much of the roster either nears arbitration eligibility or is making their way through it. But none will draw more attention than Bieber, who is one of the few players on the active roster only under club control through next season.

Last season Bieber experienced another downturn to his velocity, but he also showed he can remain an elite starting pitcher without it, posting a 2.88 ERA with 198 strikeouts in 200 innings. He also spent the first half of the season adjusting to his own mechanics after a shoulder injury derailed him in 2021.

Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians spring training 2023 top storylines to watch