Cleveland Indians outfielder Bradley Zimmer could be nearing the end of his time with the club unless he turns things around.
There was once a time when Bradley Zimmer could have manned center field for the Cleveland Indians. Due to injuries, things have not worked out and Cleveland explored other options in center field. Options including Greg Allen, Jason Kipnis, Leonys Martin, Austin Jackson, Rajai Davis, and now Oscar Mercado. Mercado seems to have center field on lockdown for the time being. Now, Bradley Zimmer is someone who will be fighting for a spot on the roster that is desperately in need of an outfielder.
Zimmer worked his way back from a shoulder injury which ended his 2018 season while down in Columbus. In 2019 there was a new looking Bradley Zimmer, his previous crouched batting stance changed to a more upright style. This did lead to improved numbers in while spending 15 games in the minors. Zimmer slashed .372/.449/.698/ with an OPS of 1.147. The sample size is super small and the numbers are not sustainable, but these are all career-highs.
Zimmer’s 14 game stint with the Tribe last year did not go as well, going 0-13 with seven strikeouts and walking once.
There is not a clear path for Zimmer to make the Major League roster
Zimmer will not be the only outfielder fighting for a spot on the roster. There is also Jake Bauers, Greg Allen, Delino DeShields and Daniel Johnson. At the end of the day there are more players than spots. Cleveland’s outfield is already crowded, although some are strict platoon players (Jordan Luplow) and others are recovering from injury (Tyler Naquin). Bauers could make the roster due to his ability to play first base and one of Allen or DeShields appears to be a lock in one way or another.
A lefty/righty platoon with Zimmer and Luplow seems like a clear path to the MLB roster, although that is spot that Bauers could also be in the mix for. That is barring some terrible platoon two different corner outfielders option that can’t be counted out. There have been stranger things to happen in Cleveland in recent memory. This idea, as awful as it is, is not out of the question with the outfield relatively unsettled.
If Bradley Zimmer can prove he is an improved hitter there is chance he could make the roster. If not, his time in Cleveland may be coming to an end.
