CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Guardians have officially claimed their second American League Central championship in just three years, solidifying a remarkable achievement for rookie manager Stephen Vogt.

The decisive moment arrived on Saturday when the Kansas City Royals fell to the San Francisco Giants with a resounding 9-0 defeat. Prior to this event, the Guardians had already secured a postseason spot, clinching at least a wild card berth with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins earlier in the week.

This latest championship marks the franchise's fifth AL Central title since 2016, as Cleveland prepares to re-enter the playoffs for the first time since their heartbreaking loss to the New York Yankees in the 2022 AL Division Series.

On Saturday, the Guardians were faced with the task of either winning their game against the St. Louis Cardinals or hoping for the Royals to falter.

As fate would have it, Kansas City fell, alleviating any pressure from the evening’s matchup for the Guardians.

The Royals had been on a remarkable run, coming from a 10-game deficit on June 25 to tie for the division's lead with a 6-1 triumph over Cleveland on August 27. However, the Guardians swiftly retaliated with a 7-5 victory the next day, halting Kansas City's momentum, which spiraled into a seven-game losing streak as Cleveland surged ahead in September.

This victory marks Cleveland’s 12th division title since the team's inception in 1995, all within the AL Central.

Currently, they are locked in a competitive battle with the AL East-leading New York Yankees for the top seed in the playoffs, but they are on track to secure at least the No. 2 seed, which would guarantee them a much-coveted first-round bye.

Last season, under former manager Terry Francona, the Guardians finished with a disappointing 76-86 record.

The appointment of Vogt, a former All-Star catcher with no managerial experience, raised eyebrows in the sports community, but the decision appears to be paying off immensely.

Vogt is now the fifth manager in Cleveland history to win at least 90 games in their first full season at the helm, joining the ranks of legends like Francona, Charlie Manuel, Al Lopez, and Tris Speaker.

Undoubtedly, the 39-year-old’s leadership has reinvigorated the team, which was off to an astonishing start this season, boasting a nine-game lead in the division and an impressive 51-26 record following a dramatic 10-8 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on June 25.

As the Guardians gear up for the playoffs, fans are left to wonder: can this youthful manager and his crew pull off a deep postseason run?

Only time will tell, but the excitement surrounding the Guardians' journey is palpable!