CLEVELAND, Ohio – Oscar Mercado will not be on the list when the Cleveland Indians open their season in 11 days, but reliever Trevor Stephan found on Sunday that he arrived at the club, said manager Terry Francona.
Mercado, which was once seen as the future in the central field for the Indians, struggled during the 2020 season shortened by the pandemic, reaching 0.128 in 36 games and looking overwhelmed before being acquired in August.
This season, Mercado found himself competing with Bradley Zimmer when the training ground started. When Amed Rosario moved from shortstop to outfield in the middle of the field, Mercado seemed to put pressure on himself, hitting 0.214 with 0.527 OPS in 10 exhibition games.
Francona said Mercado needs some space without major league games hanging over his head to get back to where he can help the ball club.
“We’ve already seen it,” said Francona. “He saw and felt. No one is giving up on him, and we wanted to make sure he understood that. “
Francona said Indian coaches will draw up a plan for the market, with input from coach Ty VanBurkleo, who will give the 26-year-old a chance to return. In the meantime, he will open the season in the Indians’ depth field, probably in Columbus until the start of the minor leagues season.
Indians coach Terry Francona told Trevor Stephan that he would be on the club’s first day list.AP
Stephan, 25, was chosen by the Cleveland Yankees in December, during the major league part of the draft of Rule 5 of baseball. He must remain on the list for the entire season or be offered back to New York for half the $ 100,000 recruitment fee.
A choice in the third round of the University of Arkansas by the Yankees in the 2017 MLB draft, Stephan reached 7th place in the organization’s ranking in 2018, but a disastrous 2019 season led to New York leaving him unprotected. He was reborn as a peacemaker with Cleveland.
Stephan has had an impressive camp so far, appearing in seven games and pitching for 2.45 ERA in 7 1/3 innings. The strong right-hand pitcher has 10 strikeouts and just two walks, allowing a home run for the 30 hitters he faced.
Francona said that Stephan smiled and then ran out of the office to call his family when informed that he had made the club.
“We told him, we said, ‘We rule with you because we like your arm,'” said Francona. “But we kept him in our club because we think he has balance. We saw him fight the Dodgers. There is a lot to like about this boy. “
Francona said the conversation with Mercado was longer.
“We didn’t want him to feel like he was on an island,” said Francona. “I think he mentally assaulted himself. And he kind of confessed that too. “
At the end of the meeting, Francona told Mercado that Sunday’s move could be an opportunity for him if he saw it as such.
“He said yes, and that was important,” said Francona. “For today, I thought it would be a great way to end.”
Taylor, Freeman, Miller chose: Other players said on Sunday that they would not be going to the club, including catcher Beau Taylor and Tyler Freeman and Owen Miller. All three will remain with the major league camp for the time being, Francona said.
Freeman and Miller, although they did not expect to arrive at the club at the beginning of the camp, did well.
“We’ll probably move them around the diamond, not because we think they’re utility players, but we don’t want to close the door on them where, say, there’s a need at the major league level and you’re like, ‘Well, he doesn’t really there, ”said Francona. “We are just trying to have more doors open than just one.”
Francona continued to praise Miller’s hitting tools, saying that the player in 18th place in the club looks like he can defend himself against a good shot.
“He uses the entire field and has the gift of being able to get his hands on and keep the ball clean on the left field line,” said Francona. “He’s a great hitter.”
Owen Miller will move the diamond into the Indians’ deep field, according to Terry Francona.Getty Images
The Talkin ‘Tribe Opening Day event will take place virtually on April 5, 2021 from noon to 1:30 pm – featuring Indian writers and sports columnists from cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Tickets can be booked on here. Also, join our VIP Experience and have the opportunity to mix with former Indian players and more. There are only 150 tickets available for this exclusive experience and tickets can only be won through our sweepstakes.
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New masks for Indians for sale: This is where you can buy Cleveland Indians-themed facial covers for protection against the coronavirus, including a single mask ($ 14.99) and a pack of 3 ($ 24.99). All MLB proceeds are donated to charities.
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