Brayan Rocchio has provided an unexpected spark for the Guardians

Seattle Mariners v Cleveland Guardians | Nick Cammett/GettyImagesFor a young player, nothing is tougher than facing the reality of a demotion. For Brayan Rocchio, that reality hit him this May.

After a dreadful start to the season, Rocchio was sent back to the minors on May 7, which meant that his place on the big-league roster and his grip on being the team's long-term shortstop were in jeoprady.

He was batting a dismal .165 with a .235 on-base percentage and a .198 slugging percentage, and his struggles at the plate were compounded by defensive problems. The Guardians, seeing an opportunity, moved Gabriel Arias to shortstop, where his powerful arm and defensive prowess quickly cemented his…