CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Indians chose Nolan Jones, their biggest contender, for Class AAA Columbus on Friday with five other players.
Coach Terry Francona, in his conversation with Jones, asked him if jumping between the third and the outside field was a problem.
“We know he is off the field, he certainly played on third base and we asked him if this is realistic or if we are overloading him,” said Francona. “He said no. I can do this. ‘ So he’s going to play a little bit of outside court and a third. ”
The Indians escalated Jones as interbases with their second choice in 2016 and moved him to third base. Last year they started using it in the external field because of the presence of José Ramirez in the third position. This spring, the Indians kept him in third position, to make him feel comfortable in the camp.
Jones appeared in eight games and hit 0.375 (3 out of 8) with four hits.
Right-handers Eli Morgan, Jean Carlos Mejia, Carlos Vargas and southpaw Scott Moss were also chosen for Columbus. Right-handed Kyle Dowdy and outfielder Billy Hamilton were relocated to the depth field. The Indians will release Hamilton on Saturday if they cannot change him.
The camp is just under three weeks away and here is the problem with the players who are picked out of the big league camp. How sharp are they? Class AA and Class A teams cannot report to Goodyear until the big league and Triple-A teams leave on March 30 because of MLB health and safety protocols due to the coronavirus.
“It is a challenge,” said Francona. “I mean, the depth field is there and they are going to play simulation games and stuff. But I want to say that part of what we think about when we send the guys is their development. Nothing is perfect this spring. “
The Indians opened spring training with 18 players, all promising, in their depth field. They are replacing the regulars in the early part of the Cactus League schedule.
No. 1: What happened to Jordan Luplow?
The Indians made their 13th game on Friday and there is still no sign of outside defender Jordan Luplow. He has been paralyzed since he injured his left ankle at the beginning of camp, during batting training.
Luplow has already received an injection and is being treated for a shock.
“He had a good day on Thursday,” said Francona. “On Saturday, he will hit the fastball machine in the cage. We hope maybe Tuesday or Wednesday to put you in a game. This is probably quite realistic, provided there are no setbacks. “
No. 2: the usefulness of everything
Mike Freeman’s switch to the Reds on Friday takes one of the main contenders out of the race for the Indians’ field assistant job.
The remaining contestants include Yu Chang, Ernie Clement, Gabriel Arias, Owen Miller, Tyler Freeman and possibly Amed Rosario. The Indians acquired the shortstops Rosario and Andres Gimenez dos Mets in January for Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco. It appears that Gimenez won the interbase spot because the Indians asked Rosario to play on a central field on Sunday in a B game against the Reds.
“At the moment, Amed is a shortstop, but he is going to the center of the field,” said Francona. “We haven’t asked him to move to another place yet. “
Oscar Mercado and Bradley Zimmer are also competing for central field jobs.
As for the utility situation, it should be limited to Chang and Rosario. Clement, Arias, Miller and Freeman did well this spring, but they will almost certainly be sent to the minors.
No. 3: Finally
Here’s what Francona had to say about three pitchers who were chosen on Friday:
* Morgan: “He only had an inning because he came a little behind everyone else with his arm (sore). But he had a hell of an inning. It has one of the best changes you’ve ever seen. I don’t care what level. It is a very good change.
“You know, he is an extremely hard worker, almost exaggerated. And that is difficult to say. But we talked to him about it and said that we are excited to see him fling in his season, because that will define who he is ”.
* Moss: “His neck was tense on Thursday against the Fathers or he would have left for the second round. So, he’ll take care of that first and then launch again. “
* Vargas: “He is very young. We said to him, ‘Hey, enjoy being young and see how good you can get.’ Sending is not necessarily as difficult as some of the others, because he was not here to make our nightclub. He was here to learn, to let everyone get used to him and him to us. But he has a big arm. Now we just have to see where it takes you. “
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