CLEVELAND – Austin Hedges’ contributions went far beyond simply being a light-hitting backup catcher for the Guardians last season. He was a mentor, advisor, wisecracking teammate and club leader.

He will be one of Cleveland again.

The popular catcher agreed Wednesday to a one-year, $4 million deal to return to the AL Central champions, who credited Hedges’ leadership as a major factor in the team’s unexpected success in 2024.

The Guardians took first place in April and stayed there, going 92-69 and winning the American League Central under rookie manager Stephen Vogt. Cleveland beat Detroit in a close Division Series before losing in five games to the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series.

Hedges was a conduit in the clubhouse for Vogt, who immediately had to navigate several injuries to his pitching staff early in the year. Hedges, 32, mentored young catcher Bo Naylor during his first full major league season and also appeared in eight of Cleveland’s 10 postseason games.

Hedges said he became the type of selfless player every team wants out of necessity.

“Well, it all started because I didn’t hit very well,” the .186 career hitter over 10 major league seasons joked.

Hedges found value in being a teammate that young players could lean on, and in doing so, he became an indispensable asset.

“I had to look in the mirror and think: How am I going to stay in the game?” said. “Because I don’t want to go back to the minor leagues. I don’t want to get another job. I love the big leagues. I love playing in the big leagues. “It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted in life.”

Hedges had expressed interest in returning during his exit interviews and the team’s feeling was mutual.

“He’s not just the mascot. He’s a really good player,” Vogt said at the end of the season. “He is so much more to us than any outside source can see. He helps us improve. He helps me improve. Challenge the coaching staff. He challenges his teammates and brings energy every day.

“And he’s a very, very good Major League baseball player. You don’t stay in the league while he’s here by accident.”

Hedges played for Cleveland from 2020-2022 and then re-signed with the Guardians for $4 million last season after spending 2023 with Pittsburgh and Texas, where he won a World Series title.

He believes the Guardians are also on their way to one.

“Now we have a roadmap for what to do,” Hedges said. “We had an idea of ​​what the roadmap would look like after 2022, but now we know exactly what it takes to get to the World Series and what it will take to win it.

“So for us, we don’t have to change much.”

The Guardians went 26-20 in Hedges’ 46 starts. While he struggled as a hitter, due to his experience, Hedges was a starter in the playoffs and also replaced Naylor late in some pressure-packed postseason games.

Hedges spent five-plus seasons with San Diego before coming to Cleveland in a trade midway through the 2020 season.