The injury bug has hit the Indians hard to start the 2019 season. Francisco Lindor was placed on the 10 day IL because of a right calf muscle strain he sustained before spring training even started. On Wednesday, March 27th, he sprained his left ankle while playing in a minor league rehab game. Second baseman Jason Kipnis also suffered a right calf muscle injury late in spring training and will not start the season with the team. Third baseman Jose Ramirez dodged a bullet late in spring training when he fouled a ball off his left knee. While uncomfortable, Ramirez has been cleared to play. He will be in the starting lineup to start the season. Thank goodness or that would have meant the only part of the Indians star powered infield starting the season would have been Carlos Santana at first base.
This leads into the questions, how will the Indians lineup on defense? Who’s the next man up to play the middle infield while we wait for Kipnis and Lindor to return?
Eric Stamets
Manning shortstop for the first time in the major leagues will be Eric Stamets, a 6th round draft pick of the Los Angeles Angels in 2012. The Indians traded outfielder David Murphy for Stamets in July 2015. He has played steadily in the Indians minor league system splitting time between AA Akron and AAA Columbus. Stamets has a good glove, quick hands, strong throwing arm, and makes few errors on defense. He can be considered a utility man as he has played at second and third base.
However, shortstop is where he has the most experience and that is where the Indians have the largest need at the moment. Offensively over seven minor league seasons he has posted a .249 AVG with 41 HR, 14 triples, and 41 doubles. A medium average for sure. However, if you do a little math you’ll find that he has 587 career hits. 176 of them went for extra bases, or 30% of those hits are hit deep.
Brad Miller
Brad Miller will take over at second base for Jason Kipnis. An extremely late emergency signing by the Indians that gives the team veteran experience at this position. Miller brings 6 years of major league play to the team. He can also be considered a utility man. He has played every position on the field except pitcher and catcher. Most of his MLB experience comes as a middle infielder and you can expect him to fill the second base role. In limited action with the Dodgers during spring training Miller performed well. He was 8 for 25 with 2 HR and 3 RBI.
Career batting shows he owns a .239 AVG with 75 HR, 25 triples, 103 doubles, along with 237 BB and .313 OBP. This shows Miller can have a little pop in his bat as well as patience at the plate. He’s willing to take a walk and most importantly, get on base. Not too long ago Miller put together a 30 HR season and 15.7% walk rate. Defensively at second base he shouldn’t be much different from that we’ve seen of steady keystone Jason Kipnis. With his major league experience and infield/outfield versatility, Brad Miller could find his way onto the roster as the everyday, experienced, utility/bench player the Indians were lacking.
Max Moroff
Max Moroff came to Indians in a November 2018 trade with the Pirates. He has limited MLB experience, appearing in only 22 games during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. A true utility infielder who has equal experience at second base, shortstop, and third base in the minor leagues and his brief time with the Pirates. Moroff had a decent spring training at the plate. His spring slash line of .308/.368/.442 shows decent numbers, much better than his career .193/.293/.331. Due to the infield injuries, Moroff will start the season on the Indians roster, most likely as their bench player and utility man. Once Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor return it would seem that Moroff will return to AAA. Max Moroff offers stability and versatility to the infield. Anything he could provide at the plate would be a bonus and welcome surprise to the lineup.
Injuries are just part of the game
All teams deal with injuries and have to fill the gaps with players from their farm system or free agents. To start the 2019 season, the Indians will be doing both. They’re no stranger to this situation. Manager Terry Francona is one who will tell his players “that the team you start with is not necessarily the team you finish with”. “You can’t make excuses, while injuries and loss of top players are not ideal, you play with what you got”. “The team expects everyone to go out and get the job done”.
Francona’s quotes and statements sound all too familiar. A lot of this is said every season and anytime there is an injury. However this sounded very much like the 2016 Indians campaign. A true belief in the next man up philosophy. Everyone pull together, work through it, be a team player, and play to your ability. If the mentality and toughness of the 2016 Indians taught anyone anything, it’s Rally Together!
