Franmil Reyes moving towards DH and 4 other matters about the Cleveland Indians

CLEVELAND, Ohio — It doesn’t seem as if Franmil Reyes is heading to see a ton of time in the outfield. At the very least not the early phases of MLB’s 60-game year that commences July 24 for the Indians at Progressive Subject.

Manager Terry Francona, talking to reporters on a Zoom simply call from PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Saturday, suggests Reyes is heading to see a large amount of time at DH, whilst occasionally assisting out in appropriate and remaining field.

“It’s been more durable (to play him in the outfield) just due to the fact he skipped a few days having tested,” stated Francona. “Then he missed a further day and 50 % when he slid hard. In a ramped-up camp, lacking five times has in all probability produced it a little tougher.

“He has played the outfield a few instances. My hope is that trend proceeds a tiny little bit. I believe it presents us a more robust lineup if we’re ready to operate him out there to left or appropriate industry at the very least some of the time.”

Reyes attended a July 4 social gathering and didn’t put on a mask. His image appeared on social media and the Indians barred him from Progressive Field right until he tested unfavorable for the coronavirus. On Monday he built an awkward slide toward 2nd foundation — Francona referred to as it a car crash — and wrenched his back again.

On Friday night time from the Pirates, the to start with time in Spring Training II that the Indians have played a workforce aside from on their own, Reyes DH’d and batted fifth. The setting up outfield had Oscar Mercado in middle, Tyler Naquin in suitable and Domingo Santana in left.

Reyes made 83 commences in correct industry final year for the Padres. When the Indians acquired him as section of the Trevor Bauer deal, he made 45 commences at DH and 3 in right.

The Indians performed their ninth activity of Spring Coaching II on Saturday. Reyes has DH’d six occasions.

The outfield circumstance is still murky. Delino DeShields is predicted to open the calendar year on the injured record as he recovers from his bout with the coronavirus. There was a possibility Jordan Luplow, another outfielder, could be a part of him for the reason that a sore again. Luplow, nonetheless, had 3 at-bats towards Adam Plutko in a simulated sport on Saturday at Progressive Field. He’ll DH Sunday night at Progressive Discipline.

If DeShields opens on the IL, the Indians continue to have nine outfielders on the roster. They all have possibilities other than for Domingo Santana.

“We’re hoping to figure out in which all people matches,” stated Francona. “We acquired a large amount of possibilities and some really tricky choices to make. I don’t want to charge the discipline suitable now for the reason that which is not truthful to any one. But we’ll be conscientious like often with our selections.”

No. 1: The utility of it all

The Indians have 3 players competing for the utility job — Mike Freeman, Christian Arroyo and Yu Chang. Arroyo is the latest addition, coming around in a trade from Tampa Bay in July. He was not able to play at that time since of a forearm difficulty, but has built a good impact in Spring Schooling I and II.

“We’re hoping to get a come to feel for him in what he can handle transferring all-around the diamond,” claimed Francona. “We know he’s got a large amount of pop in his bat. He’s an appealing child. He’s a minor taken out from getting a leading prospect for the reason that he was banged up for a pair of several years. But you can see within there what men and women favored.

“Is he ready to do that off the bench in component time duty? Those are points we’re making an attempt to figure out. We’re striving to move him about the diamond. We’ll see where it goes.”

No. 2: No holding back again

Francona stated the Indians are not imagining about keeping Mike Clevinger back again just after he skilled some supply troubles on Wednesday. Clevinger, who experienced medical procedures on his still left knee in February, claimed he was obtaining complications planting his remaining foot and locking the knee so he could travel toward the plate. He stated it was if his entire body did not have confidence in that the knee would maintain his weight and vitality.

“I assume he stated it was certainly more psychological than actual physical,” claimed Francona. “You realize it. You are landing on that leg so challenging and you are making use of it as leverage. I do not think he fully trusted it. The hope is that as it carries on to keep up and get more robust he won’t be wondering about that any longer.”

Clevinger’s final start off just before the get started of the period will be Monday versus the Pirates at Progressive Area.

No. 3: Acquainted deal with in Pittsburgh

Erik Gonzalez started at shortstop for the Pirates on Friday evening. Gonzalez expended 10 decades in the Indians business prior to they traded him to the Pirates just before the 2019 period for Luplow and Max Moroff.

“He’s a wonderful kid,” said Francona. “Defensively, he’s actually great. I think we have been really snug with our shortstop (Francisco Lindor). We didn’t believe he was most effective suited for the bench. When you trade a participant, it does not indicate you never like him. We ended up hoping to make a baseball trade. Pittsburgh valued him and we valued Jordan Luplow. It ended up performing out quite great.”

Gonzalez experienced a damaged shoulder previous year, although Luplow strike .276 with 15 homers and 38 RBI in 85 game titles for the Indians.

No. 4: In closing … a trip to Typical Park for Jefry Rodriguez

Suitable-hander Jefry Rodriguez was assigned to Typical Park, web-site of the Indians’ alternate exercise session website, on Saturday. Rodriguez arrived to Spring Coaching II with a sore decreased back again and did not pitch in an intrasquad sport. “Now we’ll get him stretched out with the hope that he can enable us at some issue this 12 months,” reported Francona. “There was so significantly to like very last 12 months and he made so lots of supply adjustments.” The roster is down to 37. … Zach Plesac started out Saturday evening in opposition to the Pirates. Francona observed that Plesac has been much more balanced on the rubber in Spring Education I and II. “His harmony when he gets around the rubber is like evening and day,” claimed Francona. “Last yr he was capable to compete so very well and his arm is so quick that he acquired absent with it. You are heading to see him do a whole lot far more items bodily this calendar year than final yr for the reason that of that.”

New Indians deal with masks for sale: Here’s where you can obtain Cleveland Indians-themed facial area coverings for coronavirus defense, including a solitary mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All MLB proceeds donated to charity.

Additional Indians protection

Civale was established to complete what he started in 4-1 Indians intrasquad victory

Logan Allen, Scott Moss reassigned to Eastlake and 3 more things we realized Friday

Are Carrasco, Clevinger ready to roll for the Indians upcoming week? Podcast

Indians signal 2020 draft decide on Tanner Burns of Auburn to $1.6M deal

Carlos Carrasco goes 5 innings and Bradley Zimmer homers — once more

Oliver Perez, Carlos Santana continue to keep rolling and 4 other matters about Indians

Francona’s information to Course of 2020: ‘Find what your passion is, seize it with both equally hands’

Bradley Zimmer creating it really hard to be overlooked

MLB Community to air Indians vs. Pirates exhibition activity on July 18

Yu Chang, Bradley Zimmer go on to mash at summertime camp: Podcast

Mike Clevinger struggles in Wednesday intrasquad Bradley Zimmer, Yu Chang homer

Tyler Naquin retains generating strides and 4 more items about the Indians