Brayan Rocchio signals start of 'Rocctober' with grand slam, walk-off

CLEVELAND — A couple of baseballs being launched over the wall at Progressive Field , some ensuing fireworks and even the Blue Angels flying overhead all signaled the official beginning of "Rocctober."

The moniker "Playoff Rocchio" was given to Guardians infielder Brayan Rocchio a few years ago when he went on a tear at the plate in the playoffs , hitting .333 with a .906 OPS in 2024 and helping Cleveland advance to the ALCS. It's become a trend.

Last September, he came through with several clutch, season-saving moments as the Guardians tracked down the Detroit Tigers and overcame a historic deficit en route to a trip to the playoffs, including a walk-off home run that clanged off the right field foul pole and officially clinched the division.

This year, Rocchio seems to have seen his shadow early. September and October are instead "Rocctember" and "Rocctober" at Progressive Field.

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On Sept. 4, in the first game of a doubleheader against the Tigers, Rocchio stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and Cleveland trailing 6-2. He drilled a grand slam to tie it.

Later, in the ninth inning, he finished the job by belting a no-doubt, walk-off home run over the left-field wall.

At one point, the Guardians had trailed that game 6-1 before Rocchio nearly single-handedly willed Cleveland to a win, which could be key in the divisional and wild card races.

"Especially when it's a clutch situation and he's up, we believe it's going to happen," Guardians reliever Erik Sabrowski. said. "And it happened today."

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Three years in a row now, once the calendar flips to September and then October, Rocchio has seemingly discovered a knack for coming through in the biggest moments of not only that game, but the entire season.

"I think he's got the gene, man," pitcher Slade Cecconi said. "Ever since I've been here, it's like every time, it's unbelievable what he's able to do. I also know he does so much mental prep work. I see him with his headphones on, he has all sorts of stuff to prepare his mind.

"And when you take care of that, those big situations, [they have more intense focus] with a guy that's prepared."

Although it felt like he made every big play for the Guardians last September en route to a playoff berth, Rocchio still posted an OPS under .700 for the month. It was far from a perfect stretch of baseball. And to begin this September, Rocchio was 0-for-6.

But, when the Guardians were at their biggest time of need, he showed up with a grand slam and a walk-off home run, as if the Blue Angels flying overhead acted as a Batsignal.

"It's been pretty cool to see Rocc late in the season the last three years," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. "We just got to keep him going and encouraging him."

Ryan Lewis covers the Guardians for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com.