Opening Day is less than two weeks away, and 30 clubs between Arizona and Florida are entering a crucial stretch this spring training.
Decisions are looming. Tough conversations have already begun with those players who won’t be breaking camp with the major league team. Many more are to come. For others, anxiety is rising.
In terms of the Indians, manager Terry Francona has made it clear that numbers won’t be the end-all, be-all factor in who makes the team and who begins the season in the minor leagues. Trusting spring training stats can lead you down the wrong path — pitchers can spend time during spring games to work on a certain pitch, or hitters can work on a particular situation, because the outcome of the game doesn’t yet matter. Earlier this spring, Francona used the example of a team needing a left-handed reliever to get left-handed hitters out, but if that pitcher gives up a grand slam to a right-handed hitter, his spring ERA will balloon but his prospects with the team wouldn’t change. It’s also difficult to say a good or bad spring in Arizona will translate to meaningful games in April in the colder conditions in Cleveland.
Still, a .500 batting average means a hitter is probably doing something right, with the opposite situation also holding true. Having the better statistical spring won’t necessarily land a player a job, but here are the players who have done well and who have had a slower start.
Up
Tyler Naquin — Once an intriguing addition to the outfield competition, Naquin has taken advantage of an opportunity made better by Abraham Almonte’s 80-game suspension, hitting .447 with eight extra-base hits in 38 at-bats entering Friday. He was told Friday he has made the roster and he has made a strong case to open the season in center field.
Mike Napoli —The main free-agent addition this spring, along with Rajai Davis, is swinging the bat well. Napoli’s hitting at a .459 mark with three home runs and 13 RBI in 37 at-bats. It’s the kind of spring any club would like to see from an offseason signing.
Jose Ramirez — Francona wants to get Ramirez into games, and Ramirez is making his case. Entering Thursday, he’s hitting .381 with four home runs and four doubles this spring while also seeing time in the outfield.
Corey Kluber — Kuber has been his usual self, striking out 16 and allowing only one run in 14 innings pitched.
Giovanny Urshela — With Juan Uribe in Cleveland and Ramirez as the utility backup, Urshela was a natural fit to get another season of experience at Triple-A Columbus. He’s come around offensively this spring, belting a team-high five home runs and hitting .306. If anything, it likely means he’s on a good track for 2017.
Austin Adams, Kyle Crockett —These two have done well for themselves this spring as they contend for a spot in the bullpen. They hold ERAs south of 3.00 and are averaging just under a strikeout an inning.
Down
Jesus Aguilar — Aguilar has remained on the radar at first base but hasn’t been able to bring it together. This spring hasn’t gone too well. He’s hitting .167 in 36 at-bats.
Lonnie Chisenhall — Expected to get most of the playing time in right field, Chisenhall is 1-for-22 (.045) and has been battling a forearm injury.
Collin Cowgill — Cowgill was a good fit for this outfield but has collected only three hits in 35 at-bats. Now with Marlon Byrd in camp, his prospects of opening the season in Cleveland have taken a down turn.
Danny Salazar — Salazar has spent much of the past year working on his secondary pitches, so this could be an example of using spring training games exclusively as an opportunity to throw them as much as possible without worrying about results. To date, he has a 7.63 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 15⅓ innings pitched.
Josh Tomlin, Cody Anderson — At least statistically, neither pitcher vying for the No. 5 spot in the rotation has done well. Both have ERAs over 6.00.
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at www.ohio.com/indians. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RyanLewisABJ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RyanLewisABJ