Making the Case for Yan Gomes as the Cleveland Indians MVP

Perhaps the best move Cleveland Indians general manager Chris Antonetti made this offseason was inking Yan Gomes to a six-year, $23 million commitment.

After an unpredictable emergence as Carlos Santana’s backup behind the dish in 2013, the Indians took a shot on the least notable of last season’s Goon Squad. Gomes, who hit .294 with 11 home runs and 38 RBI for the Tribe in 88 games a season ago, was crucial during the Tribe’s magical run toward the 2013 postseason.

Despite such a small sample size of success, Gomes entered the season as the team’s primary catcher—mostly due to his defensive prowess and rapport with the Indians’ youthful staff members. Manager Terry Francona made it clear to Gomes this spring that he didn’t care what Gomes hit, largely because his main job was to run the pitching staff similar to the was Jason Varitek did it for Francona in Boston.

Much to the surprise of many around baseball, however, the 27-year-old Brazilian has transformed himself into one of the premier two-way catchers in the game.

In 128 games this season, Gomes has posted a slash-line of .284/.318/.475 while connecting on 19 home runs (including the towering blast above) with 66 RBI. Since the All-Star break, Gomes has tortured opposing pitchers to the tune of a .322 average with 22 extra-base hits and 30 RBI.

He just continues to get better.

In just his first full season, Gomes has posted the fourth-best average among big league catchers, the third-most home runs among AL catchers and the sixth-highest RBI total among all backstops according to ESPN.com. His caught stealing percentage (.333) and range factor (9.24) rank behind only Brian McCann for tops in baseball.

While Michael Brantley has undeniably led the charge for the Tribe all season long, it is Gomes whose contributions are most needed by the Tribe. According to Baseball-Reference.com, the first-year starter has hit a whopping .354 with 14 home runs in Cleveland victories this season while posting a mere .216 in losses.

In short, the Tribe offense goes as Gomes goes.

While Francona must get his catcher some time off, the skipper has found it difficult to take his catcher’s bat out of the lineup. As a result, Gomes has 27 plate appearances as a DH this season, where he has excelled with an incredible .500 average. Similar to Brantley, Gomes has found himself hitting all over the Cleveland lineup this season, notching starts in six different spots in the order.

Additionally, Gomes has been a catalyst in helping grow a revolving door of young pitchers—a group who have posted the best ERA in the big leagues since Aug. 9.

Gomes recently drew incredible praise from legendary Cleveland Plain Dealer writer Paul Hoynes, who wrote, “Traditionally the double play has been the pitcher’s best friend. Where Indians’ pitchers are concerned, it’s catcher Yan Gomes.”

While Cleveland’s pitching staff may have found a BFF, the organization might have found itself its MVP.

*Note: All stats from Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.