Tomlin K's six, Encarnacion doubles vs. D-backs Patrick Corbin Edwin Encarnacion Yandy Diaz Josh Tomlin Chris Herrmann

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1 Tomlin K's six, Encarnacion doubles vs. D-backs By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com March 19th, 2017 GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Lefty Patrick Corbin turned in a strong Cactus League outing in a 4-4 tie with the Indians on Sunday afternoon, logging five innings at Goodyear Ballpark in his latest push for a spot in the Arizona rotation. Edwin Encarnacion, Cleveland's premier offseason signing, contributed an RBI double to deep center off Corbin in the fourth inning, which was the lone frame in which the D-backs southpaw flinched. Indians prospect Yandy Diaz brought Encarnacion across the plate with an RBI single. Diaz ended the day with three hits and is now batting.381 in 11 Cactus League games this spring for the Tribe. On the spring, Corbin has amassed 17 strikeouts and just three walks in 18 1/3 innings, posting a 3.44 ERA in five starts. Against Cleveland, the left-hander was charged with two runs on four hits in five innings, ending with three strikeouts and no walks. "I feel great. I feel ready to go," Corbin said. "If the next one was the regular season, I'd be ready." Indians starter Josh Tomlin also delivered a solid five-inning performance in his march toward the Opening Day rotation. The righty scattered two hits and allowed two runs (one earned) against the D-backs, striking out six and issuing no walks in the outing. "[He was] Tomlin-like. Pretty good," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He threw the ball over the plate, and he didn't throw it over the middle. [He gave up] the solo homer, but he got through five innings, gave up two, and he looks like he's right where he needs to be." Chris Herrmann launched a solo home run off Tomlin in the second and Arizona broke through for one more off the right-hander in the fifth. In that inning, Kristopher Negron reached on a throwing error by Tribe shortstop Michael Martinez and later came around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jeff Mathis. Indians relievers Dan Otero and Boone Logan each logged a shutout inning in the tie. D-backs Up Next: Taijuan Walker looks to continue his dominant spring when he faces the A's at 7:05 p.m. PT Monday at Hohokam Stadium. Walker owns a 2.08 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 13 innings in his first Spring Training with Arizona. Indians Up Next: Left fielder Michael Brantley is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Monday when the Indians host the Dodgers in a 4:05 p.m. ET contest at Goodyear Ballpark. Right-hander Trevor Bauer is slated to start and log six innings for Cleveland. A webcast of the game will be available on Indians.com. Kipnis timetable could change complexion of infield By Jordan Bastian / March 19th, 2017 GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- In sorting through their options for second base, the Indians needed a better understanding of how much time Jason Kipnis would miss with his ongoing right shoulder issue. Cleveland now has a clearer picture as Opening Day approaches. On Sunday morning, the Indians announced that Kipnis is unlikely to be ready to play in a Major League game for another four to five weeks, meaning he could miss at least a couple weeks in April. Given that timetable, the Tribe is becoming more open-minded about potentially moving third baseman Jose Ramirez to second until Kipnis returns. "That's probably his most comfortable position," said Indians manager Terry Francona, referring to playing Ramirez at second. "But he hasn't been over there very much, so we just want to give him some reps there just to keep every option open." Ramirez started at second base against the D-backs on Sunday, following a start at second against the Rangers on Saturday. Kipnis met with Dr. Keith Meister on Friday, and it was confirmed that the second baseman is dealing with inflammation in his right (throwing) shoulder. Kipnis was cleared to continue a strengthening program, with the goal of resuming hitting and throwing in about a week. Earlier this spring, when the Indians were unsure of how much time Kipnis would miss, Francona stressed that the team's preference was to keep Ramirez at third base. If Ramirez is now being considered for second, that shifts how Cleveland's infield could look at the outset of the regular season. Giovanny Urshela, Erik Gonzalez and Richie Shaffer could be temporary possibilities at third. Of those three, Urshela has the most Major League experience with the Indians, having played 81 games as the team's third baseman in "Urshela's in that mix, for sure," Francona said. "It's probably Gold Glove-caliber defense. He's a really aggressive hitter... as he learns to swing at pitches that he can handle, he'll do more damage, because he's plenty quick. We've all seen him turn on good fastballs, things like that. He can be overly aggressive at times. It's also nice to know that, when the ball's hit down there, you're out. That's a good feeling." Francona added that Michael Brantley's situation could also have a ripple effect on the roster. The Indians also announced Sunday that Brantley is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Monday, and could also play on Wednesday and Thursday, barring a setback. Brantley is currently working his way back from August surgery on his right biceps, which followed right shoulder surgery in November Brantley played in a pair of Minor League games last week with no issues. "I just want to be careful what I say," Francona said, "because we're starting to get to that point where people are pointing toward Opening Day. I don't want to do that to [Brantley]. This kid has done -- we've been over it 100 times -- he's done everything in his power. And by all accounts, he is feeling really good. So, for me, that's good enough. Wherever it leads, and whenever it leads, as long as he's feeling good, we're probably in pretty good shape." If Brantley is deemed ready for Opening Day, that would impact the makeup of the outfield, which has Abraham Almonte, Austin Jackson, Shaffer and others vying for roles. That situation would also, in turn, impact the makeup of the bench, which has Gonzalez, Michael Martinez and Ronny Rodriguez jockeying for position in the race for a utility job. "It's going to be interesting that last week [of Spring Training]," Francona said. "I'm sure we'll be pretty busy, because there's going to be a lot of decisions to be made, and I'm sure that one could affect the next." Anderson to have TJ surgery, miss all of '17 By Jordan Bastian / March 19th, 2017 GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- No pitcher wants to go under the knife, but Cody Anderson weighed his options and discussed his situation with medical experts and even some teammates. After considering all the factors, Anderson felt Tommy John surgery was the proper course of action. "I think Cody made a really mature decision," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "I don't think he rushed into anything. I think he thought it through. And this way, it's all in front of him now."

2 The Indians announced Sunday morning that Anderson elected to have right elbow reconstruction surgery after receiving a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister on Friday, meaning the pitcher will miss the entire 2017 campaign. Meister confirmed Cleveland's diagnosis of a sprained ulnar collateral ligament, along with a mild flexor strain. Anderson said he felt a sharp pain in his right elbow earlier this spring while trying to really ramp up the intensity of his throwing. The setback comes after the 26-year-old starter had arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow on Nov. 9. That procedure, which was also performed by Dr. Meister, was aimed at addressing posterior discomfort and an impingement in the back of the elbow joint. The details of when Anderson will have his next surgery are still being worked out. "The fact that I'm sitting out an entire year is pretty tough," Anderson said. "But not being able to come back after other treatments, that's even more scary. Then, you could possibly miss two years. I thought this was the best move for the team and my career." Anderson enjoyed a strong rookie showing with the Indians in 2015, going 7-3 with a 3.05 ERA in 15 starts. The righty was named the team's No. 4 starter at the end of Spring Training one year ago, then endured a rocky campaign that saw him go 2-5 with a 6.68 ERA in 19 games (nine starts). It was revealed after the season that Anderson had dealt with elbow woes late in the second half. This spring, Anderson was not in the running for a spot in the Major League rotation, which projects to include Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar, Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin. In all likelihood, Anderson would have been ticketed for Triple-A Columbus to open the season. Tomlin, who had Tommy John surgery in 2012, agreed that Anderson made a sound decision. "Don't underestimate the work ethic that he has, the drive that he has to try to get back," Tomlin said. "It's obviously a tough situation to be in, whenever you have to go through something like that. But there's also the point of, you have to understand, 'I'm better when I'm healthy,' and trying to kind of work through things like that. "I think he's taking the right approach in trying to be proactive on it, and trying to get it taken care of as quick as he can so he can come back and be the Cody Anderson that he once was." Brantley to make Cactus League debut Monday By Jordan Bastian / March 19th, 2017 GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Indians announced a handful of medical updates on Sunday morning. Here is a rundown of the latest on Michael Brantley, Jason Kipnis, Cody Anderson and Tyler Naquin. Brantley is scheduled to play left field for the Indians in Monday's game against the Dodgers at Goodyear Ballpark. It will mark the outfielder's Cactus League debut, following a pair of Minor League games earlier this week. Brantley is working his way back from right biceps tenodesis surgery in August. Right shoulder and biceps woes limited him to 11 games last year. Kipnis is not expected to be ready for Major League games for another four to five weeks due to inflammation in his right shoulder. The second baseman received a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister earlier this week and was cleared to resume a strengthening program, with the goal of resuming hitting and throwing in about a week. Anderson received a second opinion from Dr. Meister on Friday, and it was confirmed that he is dealing with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, along with a mild flexor strain. Anderson has elected to undergo Tommy John surgery, which means the righthander will miss the entire 2017 season. Naquin remains day-to-day with bilateral knee soreness. The center fielder was scratched from Saturday's game and will likely miss another game or two. Naquin day to day; Carrasco nearing return By Jordan Bastian / March 19th, 2017 GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Tyler Naquin walked through the Indians' clubhouse Sunday morning and expressed surprise that anyone thought his knee issue was serious. The center fielder was adamant that he would be back on the field soon. "I'm fine," Naquin said. "I'll be back in a couple days." Naquin was scratched from Cleveland's lineup against the Royals on Saturday with what the team described as bilateral knee soreness. On Sunday, the Indians announced that Naquin remained day to day with the issue, which manager Terry Francona clarified as being patellar tendinitis. Francona said the Indians wanted to be cautious, especially given that the team has an off day looming Tuesday. That gives Naquin time to rest, with the goal of being able to play in a Minor League game on Wednesday, according to the manager. "He's got a little inflammation there," Francona said. "We just wanted to make sure we knock it out." Other items of note from Sunday Right-hander Carlos Carrasco, who had a recent bout with right elbow inflammation, completed a bullpen session on Saturday with no issues. Carrasco is scheduled to pitch in a Minor League game Monday and is on target to make his next Cactus League start Friday. First baseman Carlos Santana is scheduled to rejoin the Indians on Monday, following his stint with the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Francona indicated that Santana likely will return to Cactus League play Wednesday. Francona noted that righty Mike Clevinger is currently away from the team to be with his wife for the birth of their second child. Carrasco also will be leaving camp for a couple days in the near future, as his wife is also expecting. Jordan Bastian has Cleveland Indians Goodyear Scribbles: Gio Urshela, Austin Jackson have chance to make impression -- Terry Pluto Terry Pluto, on March 20, 2017 at 6:30 AM, updated March 20, 2017 at 6:33 AM GOODYEAR, Arizona -- Scribbles in my Cleveland Indians notebook: 1. At the start of spring training, Gio Urshela probably thought he had no chance to make the team. Jose Ramirez had taken over at third base, Urshela's natural position. Before spring training, the Indians told Urshela to be ready... you never know what will happen.

3 2. Well, something happened when Jason Kipnis came down with inflammation of the right shoulder. Sunday's medical update said Kipnis would be out 4-to-5 weeks, meaning he will miss at least a few weeks in April. Manager Terry Francona seemed upbeat about Kipnis not being out for a long time. Two sets of doctors had the same diagnosis. 3. But rather than just play utilityman Michael Martinez at second base, the Indians are going to give Urshela a chance to show what he can do the rest of spring training. I was told the Tribe would also look at Yandy Diaz at third, but Urshela is getting the first chance. Ramirez will take over at second base, his natural position, as Kipnis recovers. 4. Francona loves Urshela's defense at third: "When the ball is hit there, you're out." The issue for the 25-year-old Urshela is hitting. He was with the Tribe for 81 games in 2015, batting.225 (.608 OPS) with 6 HR and 27 RBI. Last season, Urshela started slow at Class AAA Columbus. He ended up batting.274 (.674 OPS) with 8 HR and 57 RBI. He walked only 15 times in 491 plate appearances. 5. "He's not a high walk guy," said Francona of Ursehla. "But we want him to stay in the zone." Urshela tends to swing at outside pitches, and tries to pull them -- leading to weak ground balls. He's not a high-strikeout hitter, but he makes poor contact because he swings at so many pitches way off the plate. Urshela is batting.240 this spring. He has not walked. 6. Before Sunday's game, Francona said Urshela plays "Gold Glove caliber defense" at third base. In the first inning of Sunday's game, Arizona's Brandon Drury hit a slow roller down the third base line. Urshela rushed in, smoothly fielded the ball and made a quick throw to first to retire Drury. It was a big-time play. 7. The Indians will play Diaz a bit at third base. Francona has been praising Diaz at the bat: "He has a good idea of the strike zone... he is an advanced hitter... he can drive the ball." Diaz is a right-handed batter who is very selective. Along with being a career.307 hitter in the minors, he has a.404 on-base percentage because he draws walks. 8. Francona said the Indians will have to figure out the best position for Diaz. He has played second, third and left field in the minors. Diaz will probably open the season at Class AAA Columbus, but he has made a huge impact with the Major League coaching staff. He is batting.381 and has six walks in 27 plate appearances. 9. Danny Salazar struck out nine in five innings when facing Texas on Friday. He allowed two runs, no walks. Francona was pleased because Salazar "worked ahead in the count with his fastball." Salazar had been wild early in camp. Francona explained when Salazar throws his fastball for a strike, it sets up his deceptive changeup -- a pitch that often drops into the dirt. Anxious hitters behind in the count tend to swing at it. 10. I asked Francona about Mike Clevinger, who had a miserable start Saturday against Texas. Francona mentioned Clevinger walking the first batter on four pitches. He was ahead of the next batter, 1-and-2, and walked him. The third batter went to a 3-and-2 count, then homered. "When he falls behind (in the count), he runs into trouble. He sometimes is too fine (pitching to the corners of the plate)." 11. Clevinger has an ERA this spring with eight walks in 5 2/3 innings. He looks headed to Class AAA. Francona mentioned Clevinger "has a lot on his mind" as he's ready to become a father any day now. But the manager said you still have to throw strikes. 12. Austin Jackson legged out a double Sunday and is hitting.333. Francona said, "It's been fun to watch... you try to be patient so he can put his best foot forward." Jackson is coming back from knee surgery last June. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: Cleveland Indians Goodyear Scribbles: Josh Tomlin throwing a rubber ball, 3 hits for Yandy Diaz -- Terry Pluto Terry Pluto, on March 19, 2017 at 7:05 PM, updated March 19, 2017 at 7:25 PM GOODYEAR, Arizona -- Scribbles after the Cleveland Indians and Arizona Diamondbacks tied on Sunday, Josh Tomlin looked very sharp, allowing only one earned run in five innings. He fanned six, didn't walk anyone. Tomlin was shelled for six runs in his last spring outing (five earned). He wanted to begin to get himself ready for the season. Or as he told me, "I needed to get out there and compete." 2. Arizona is a tough place for Tomlin, who gives up a lot of fly balls. The thin desert air tends to takes the edge off breaking pitches. It also helps fly balls carry a little deeper than in many other places. Tomlin said his arm "feels really good." Between the regular season and postseason, Tomlin threw a career-high 192 innings. The Indians wanted Tomlin to go slowly this spring. He has had arm problems in the past. 3. Tomlin said that for several weeks after the season, the only throwing he did was a rubber ball against a wall. "That was every three days. I was only about 10 feet away. It was just to keep my arm loose. It really worked." 4. Manager Terry Francona called the outing: "Very Tomlin-like. He's right where he needs to be right now." 5. Yandy Diaz had an impressive day. He was 3-for-4. He ripped two singles to right field, and had an infield hit up the middle. Diaz has a short, compact swing. The right-handed batter hits the ball to all fields. 6. He missed 10 days with a groin injury in the middle of camp, but he's healthy now. He's hitting.381 this spring. "He is a very advanced hitter with a good idea of the strike zone," said Francona. 7. Edwin Encarnacion lashed a double to deep right-center. He is hitting.321 this spring. Encarnacion has a disciplined swing and his power to the opposite field is impressive. 8. Dan Otero is quietly having an outstanding spring, another scoreless inning. He's allowed only five hits and one walk in 7 2/3 scoreless innings. 9. Boone Logan struck out the side. The Tribe's free agent addition has allowed only one run (in 5 2/3 innings) in his last five outings. He has fanned eight. 10. Austin Jackson ripped a ground ball past the first baseman and into the right field corner. As he rounded first, he hesitated for a moment... then put on a burst of speed and went into second base with a double. That was important because the Indians want to see if his knee is getting stronger after surgery last June.

4 11. Jackson is on a minor league contract and needs to show he's healthy to make the team. Jackson is hitting.333 this spring. If he continues to play this way, he'll probably open the season platooning with Tyler Naquin in center field. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: Cleveland Indians Update: Cody Anderson done for season, Jason Kipnis out at least a month -- Terry Pluto Terry Pluto, on March 19, 2017 at 1:30 PM, updated March 19, 2017 at 3:27 PM GOODYEAR, Arizona -- Cleveland Indians Medical Update: 1. Pitcher Cody Anderson has a "UCL sprain along with a mild flexor strain" according to the Indians media release. He will have elbow reconstruction surgery (Tommy John) and be out for the entire season. 2. The 26-year-old Anderson was in the Tribe starting rotation at the opening of the 2016 season. He was 2-5 with a 6.68 ERA. His arm was bothering him for most of the season. He had "impingment" elbow surgery after the 2016 season. 3. Anderson still felt some arm problems this spring, and that led to the decision to have reconstruction surgery. The Indians were hoping he'd be healthy and supply depth in the starting rotation. 4. Anderson said the surgery after the 2016 was to "clean up" some bone chips in his elbow. He felt better for a while as he worked on strengthening his arm. 5. "But a few weeks ago, I tried to air it out and I had to back off," Anderson told me. The pitcher said they talked about different options, but surgery was the best "because I want to start moving forward." 6. Anderson said his arm hadn't felt quite right for about a year. In 2015, he was 7-3 with a 3.05 ERA. He was considered one of the team's top pitching prospects. 7. Manager Terry Francona said Anderson made "a mature decision" to opt for surgery. "Knowing Cody, he'll come back even better, the way he works." 8. Jason Kipnis had a second medical opinion on his sore right shoulder. Dr. Keith Meister agreed with the Tribe doctors, who said Kipnis has inflammation. He will rest for a week, then start hitting and throwing. 9. Assuming the Tribe's star second baseman has no more setbacks, he will be able to play in 4-to-5 weeks, according the the Indians. That means he'll open the season on the disabled list. 10. Outfielder Tyler Naquin is listed as "day-to-day with bilateral knee soreness." Both of his knees are a bit sore. Waiting for more updates. Naquin was scratched from the lineup Saturday. 11. Naquin said he will be fine "in a couple of days" and there was no need for people to "blow it up" in terms of concern about his knee. Francona said Naquin has "petellar tendinitis." The plan is for Naquin to DH in a minor league game Wednesday. The Indians don't seem concerned about it being a long-term problem. Naquin is batting.458 this spring. 12. The good news is Michael Brantley's comeback from shoulder problems continues to go well. He had been playing in minor league games. He will play in a big league game against the Dodgers on Monday. If all goes well, Brantley will play three games in the next four days. 13. Francona said this of Brantley: "By all accounts, Brantley feels really good." But the manager added there was no pressure to push Brantley to be ready for the April 3 opener. The goal is for Brantley to be fully ready to play when he does return. 14. Carlos Carrasco threw a bullpen session Saturday. He feels good. He is expected to pitch in a minor league game Monday. Carrasco had some minor elbow soreness last week. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: Cleveland Indians Spring Scribbles: Bradley Zimmer shines under hot sun -- Terry Pluto Terry Pluto, on March 19, 2017 at 6:18 AM, updated March 19, 2017 at 7:19 AM SURPRISE, Arizona -- Scribbles in my Cleveland Indians notebook with the temperature 95 degrees Saturday for a spring game against the Kansas City Royals: 1. Bradley Zimmer doesn't run, he glides. Or he floated. I know, he's running. But the 6-foot-5 outfielder moves with such grace. Early in the game, he walked and quickly stole second base. He's 4-of-4 in steals this spring. He also made a superb running catch of a line drive hit directly over his head in center field. That is a very, very tough play in the light blue desert sky with a hot wind blowing out. 2. Zimmer is headed to Class AAA, and that's a wise move. He only has 128 Class AAA at bats. He hit.242 with 1 HR and 9 RBI in Columbus last summer. He had a difficult day at the plate, two pop ups and a strikeout. Zimmer is hitting.348 this spring with 3 HR and 11 RBI. The 24- year-old looks like a first-round pick, and he could be big league ready by mid-season. 3. Tribe Coach Brad Mills raved about Zimmer's ability to run back on a ball and jump at just the right time to make a catch. Zimmer's athleticism sparkles. 4. I kept thinking, "It was 30 degrees when I left Ohio, and now it's 95." As I type these notes, fans are sitting on the grass beyond the outfield wall... sunbathing. I'm still amazed we can get on a plane and about four hours later get off at the other end of the country in such a different place. 5. I came from the Phoenix airport to Surprise Stadium to watch a group of mostly Tribe minor leaguers face the Royals. That's part of spring training that I love. It's seeing Todd Hankins at bat and wondering, "Who is he?" He hit a homer, played left field. He's played second, third and the outfield. Hankins hit.241 over the last two seasons for Akron, so this was a big day for the 15th round pick in 2011.

5 6. The Indians had a split squad, most of the regulars were in San Antonio for two games against the Rangers. So that left Richie Shaffer playing first base. Shaffer has hit four homers this spring for the Tribe, including one Saturday. He was claimed by three different teams (and placed on waivers by three teams) between the end of last season and the start of spring training. 7. Shaffer a 2012 first-round pick by Tampa Bay. He was the Rays' Minor League Player of the Year in He hit 23 HR in 100 games between Class AA and AAA. But in 51 big league games with Tampa Bay, Shaffer batted.213 (.720 OPS) with 50 strikeouts in 122 at bats. He may replace Jesus Aguilar as the first baseman at Class AAA Columbus. He also has played some third base and the outfield. Mills praised Shaffer's ability to play several positions. He's not likely to make the team, but he is the type of player who could be called up during the season if the Tribe has some injuries. 8. Aguilar is with Milwaukee and has a chance to make the Brewers opening day roster. This spring, he's hitting.417 (15-of-36) with four HR. He was out of options and claimed on waivers by Milwaukee, which is looking for a first baseman. 9. Yandy Diaz went 1-of-4. He didn't hit the ball very hard, some soft fly balls. His base hit was a grounder slapped through the right side of the infield. Diaz is batting.294 this spring. 10. Francisco Lindor is batting.389 (7-of-18) with 2 HR playing for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. Carlos Santana is hitting.348 (7- of-22) for the Dominican Republic. 11. Shawn Morimando started for the Tribe, allowing one run and three hits in three innings. The 6-foot lefty had a 15-5 record and 3.25 ERA between Class AA Akron and Class AAA Columbus last year. He just looks so-so to me, but you can't dismiss those stats from a 24-year-old lefty starter. The Indians could use a lefty starter. 12. Carlos Frias threw a scoreless inning. He has not allowed a run in 3 1/3 innings. He has an outside shot to make the team. The 27-year-old right-hander had a 6-6 record and 4.50 ERA in parts of three seasons with the Dodgers. 13. In the ninth inning, a skinny kid wearing No. 13 came to the plate. His last name... Mejia. That's not Francisco Mejia, the Tribe's elite prospect who had a 50-game hitting streak last season. This was Gabriel Mejia, who is 21. I never heard of him. He slapped a base hit to left field, then immediately stole second base. 14. Media guide time: Mejia has a career.333 average in 194 games at the Dominican League and rookie league levels. He has stolen 140 bases in those 194 games. He was named the "fastest player" in the Tribe's Minor League organization by Baseball America. He batted.322 at Mahoning Valley last season. 15. Final score: 4-4 in 10 innings. Tribe ran out of pitchers. These things happen in spring training. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: Extra Frames: Tyler Naquin scratched; surprise player enters potential bench mix by T.J. Zuppe, Sat, March 18th SURPRISE, Ariz. Notes, quotes and observations after the 4-4 tie with the Royals on Saturday at Surprise Stadium: As a few of us strolled over to the minor-league fields Saturday morning to check out Michael Brantley s second appearance of the spring, Tyler Naquin walked out of the team s complex just a few feet behind us. As he began to walk past us, he asked, What s up, guys? As we would come to find out later, we should have been asking him that exact question. Naquin was scratched from the game Saturday due to bilateral knee soreness, which is a really fancy way of saying both knee were bothering him. He was replaced in the field by Bradley Zimmer, who moved from right field to center field. With some level of injury or rehab concerns hanging over Michael Brantley (shoulder), Jason Kipnis (shoulder), Cody Anderson (elbow) and Carlos Carrasco (elbow), the unfortunate tendency is to start sounding some alarms about the left-handed hitting outfielder. But after the game, bench coach Brad Mills made Naquin s absence sound more precautionary than anything. Mills indicated that Naquin could be back in the lineup as soon as Sunday. The biggest goal was avoiding a stretch of 3-5 games missed by their 25-year-old center fielder. They didn t want to get it all flared back up again, so where he was going to be out two, three, four games, he said. It is better than it was last night. He went out, ran, tried to do some things. It just didn t feel like where it needs to be. The trainers felt that, hey, if this thing gets flared up and he plays, we re going to be in trouble. As a result, Zimmer got a chance to show off some more of his skill in center field. The highlight of his defensive day came when he raced back and tracked down a deep drive at the wall in dead-center. The left-handed hitter also reached base on a walk and stole his fourth base of the spring. At 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, the 24-year-old doesn t exactly look like a prototypical center fielder, but the young prospect has demonstrated an ability to use his long strides to his advantage in the field or on the bases. Sometimes it doesn t look like he s moving fast, but he s capable of surprising you with his quickness. You get him underway, he can move, Mills said. He s really pretty going first-to-third, or home-to-third, or home-to-second. Zimmer has been one of several young players taking an opportunity created by injury and using it to showcase their skills. Another one of those types has been Richie Shaffer, who was claimed during the offseason, put through waivers and then eventually outrighted to the minors by the Indians. With a portion of the club in San Antonio to battle the Rangers, Shaffer demonstrated more of his versatility, playing first base in Saturday s tie, launching his fourth Cactus League homer in the process. Shaffer has bounced all over the diamond this spring, logging time at first base, third base, left field and right field. He has also appeared in more exhibition games than anyone else on the Indians roster. The 26-year-old infielder and outfielder may have come to camp off the radar, but with parts of the roster uncertain, the right-handed hitter has seized a chance to show what he can do. The adjustments he s been able to make at the plate have been very good, Mills said. It s nice to see and hopefully he ll continue to show us something the rest of the spring. But anytime you can get a guy that can play those four positions, corner outfielder, corner infield, that s pretty nice.

6 We re still a long way away from handing Shaffer a spot on the bench, but it s no longer a stretch to say he s in the mix. We know the Indians value versatility, and so far, he s held his own everywhere he s been stashed on the field. And as far as his minor-league profile goes, the former first-round selection of the Rays has always had an ability to get on base and carry a little power potential. Like a few of the outfield candidates, Shaffer s potential opening-day status is probably tied to the health of Brantley and Kipnis. If both open the season on the disabled list which certainly isn t out of the question Shaffer could emerge as a utility player in their absence. In very limited MLB duty, 142 plate appearances to be exact, he owns a.720 OPS (99 wrc+). He ll be a guy worth watching in the final weeks. As will Yandy Diaz, who went 1-for-4 as the team s DH in Surprise. Diaz and Shaffer carry very similar defensive profiles, but the Indians are as high on Diaz s offensive upside as anyone. Some groin soreness slowed the right-handed hitter earlier this spring, leading him to play catch up over the past few days. The injury, however, certainly hasn t slowed his offense. Diaz is carrying a.912 OPS in the Cactus League. Shaffer is currently at.931. Cody Allen and Bryan Shaw received some work Saturday, with Allen logging a scoreless inning and Shaw yielding one run in relief. The past three springs have been rough for Shaw, who has posted earned-run averages of 6.23, 8.64 and over the past three camps, respectively. I m not pointing that out to alarm anyone. In fact, I m trying to do the opposite. We ve seen enough spring baseball to know that much of what takes place in Arizona is not reflective of what we ll witness once the season begins. And as for Shaw, being healthy and capable of racking up another 70-appearance season is really all that matters right now. I thought B was fine, Mills said. I m sure he d like to have a couple pitches back, but he s still coming and I thought he threw the ball well. The rest of the club, including manager Terry Francona, will return to Goodyear on Saturday night after splitting with the Rangers at the Alamodome. We should start getting some updates on guys like Brantley, Kipnis and Anderson in the coming days, which should help some of the opening-day roster come into focus. Carrasco, meanwhile, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session in the next few days. The entire Indians squad will be back home to battle the Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon at Goodyear Ballpark. Let s talk then. Injury updates on Brantley, Anderson and Kipnis mean decisions remain on roster by T.J. Zuppe, Yesterday GOODYEAR, Ariz. The Indians were forced to balance the excitement of Michael Brantley s next step with the inevitable disappointment associated with Cody Anderson s diagnosis and everything in between when they received medical updates on a number of their ailing players this weekend. And every piece of information gained will certainly have a varying degree of impact on roster decisions ahead. Brantley is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Monday in a potential upcoming stretch of three games in four days. It will be his first other than playing in two minor-league games last week in Goodyear, totaling seven plate appearances, recording a double and walk. Even as he clears the latest hurdle in his recovery from a second shoulder surgery, there are no expectations on Brantley being ready for opening day. We ve been over it 100 times, manager Terry Francona said. He s done everything in his power. And, by all accounts, he is feeling really good. So, for me, that s good enough. Wherever it leads, and whenever it leads, as long as he s feeling good, we re probably in pretty good shape. However, the pendulum swung the other way for Anderson, who after a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister, made the decision to undergo Tommy John surgery. Francona, though, was impressed with Anderson s thought process, leading to the choice to go under the knife on his elbow for the second time in five months. I think Cody made a really mature decision, Francona said of the 26 year old. I don t think he rushed into anything. I think he thought it through. And this way, it s all in front of him now, as opposed to maybe it works, but maybe he s pitching at 85 or 90 percent and then maybe at some point he has to have a procedure done any way. This way, he gets it done and, knowing Cody, the way he works, he ll come back even better, and he ll have the rest of his career in front of him. Anderson underwent a procedure to correct an impingement in the back of his right elbow in November and began this spring by throwing well in early bullpen sessions. But after new symptoms began to appear, he was shut down, ultimately leading to the first MRI and revelation of a UCL sprain. The news was certainly disappointing for Anderson, who followed up a surprising rookie season with a disappointing second season. A longshot to make the opening-day roster, Anderson was part of the first line of starting depth. But for him, taking care of this now, as opposed to letting it potentially linger for multiple seasons, made the most sense. The fact that I m sitting out an entire year is pretty tough, he said. But also not being able to come back after other treatments, that s even more scary. Then, you could possibly miss two years. I thought this was the best move for the team and my career. Then, there s second baseman Jason Kipnis, who also received a second opinion on his right rotator cuff from Dr. Meister. Kipnis diagnosis of shoulder inflammation was on par with what was initially believed. He is believed to be four to five weeks away from returning, which means he will likely open the season on the 10-day disabled list. However, that news isn t exactly surprising. The Indians have attempted to maintain a big picture view on their injuries throughout camp, realizing their focus is on playing deep into October. Kipnis absence does open the door for someone to step through. The Indians are now more open to the idea of Jose Ramirez moving from third to second, a scenario they said they initially wanted to avoid. But if Kipnis is on track to miss the first few weeks, Ramirez could slide to the other side of the infield, opening up third base for one of many candidates, including Giovanny Urshela, Erik Gonzalez, Richie Shaffer or Yandy Diaz. Fortunately, it doesn t appear they will have to factor in Tyler Naquin s injury to their opening-day plans. Naquin is confident his battle with some bilateral knee soreness will only keep him sidelined for the next few days. The off day Tuesday will give him an additional day to rest both knees. At this point, he is scheduled to return to action of some variety Wednesday. We re going to have some decisions, Francona said of the roster. It s going to be interesting that last week. I m sure we ll be pretty busy, because there s going to be a lot of decisions to be made, and I m sure that one could affect the next.

7 Extra Frames: When it comes to Yandy Diaz and a big-league roster spot, there is much to consider by T.J. Zuppe, 3 hours ago GOODYEAR, Ariz. Notes, quotes and observations from the 4-4 tie with the Diamondbacks on Sunday at Goodyear Ballpark: Yandy Diaz has all the attributes of a tremendous young hitter. Just ask anyone in the Indians front office or coaching staff. Ask his teammates. Ask the opposition. They ll probably all tell you something similar. The 25-year-old prospect can flat out rake. So, with injuries potentially opening some spots, why does it feel like he s such a long shot to make the team? Let s get one thing straight before we examine the topic: The organization has never stated, one way or another, what Diaz s chances of making the opening-day roster were. Any indication we ve gotten is based purely on our own speculation and observation. Still, the Indians have been cautious with Diaz since he battled a groin injury earlier in camp. Now, he s back, and it s like he hasn t missed a beat. He collected three more hits in the tie Sunday, raising his batting average in the Cactus League to.381 and inflating his OPS to He s a good hitter, manager Terry Francona said. He s an advanced hitter. We re trying to figure out where it goes, as he gets older. He s got a really good idea of the strike zone and he s strong enough to drive the ball. He uses the whole field. There s a lot to like offensively. So, given how much everyone raves about his offensive profile, if Diaz doesn t open the year on the 25-man roster, what gives? Throughout camp, one of the prevailing comments about the young hitter is tied to an uncertainty about his defense. Diaz has played a lot of third base in the minors, but last year he really started adding more versatility by logging some playing time in each of the corner outfielder spots. But they just aren t sure if they can trust him at those positions yet, and the only thing that will answer that is time. [What] we ve got to figure out, he s got some work to do defensively, Francona said. We ll stay after him and make sure he gets it done. The groin injury cut into some of that work. Diaz has been relegated to DH duties far more than he probably would have if not for the soreness. He served as the designated hitter again on Sunday, which doesn t help answer some of the questions about his glove ability. Francona noted why: He s played a lot this last stretch and he s coming off of that, so we re trying to kind of space it a little bit, just so we don t wear him out. Francona also told us Diaz would play third base Monday. That position will be a topic of hot conversation over the next week or so, as the team tries to figure out how they ll handle Jason Kipnis current injury. The infielder will probably miss the next 4-5 weeks of game action due to inflammation in his right shoulder. If Jose Ramirez slides over to second in the meantime, the hot corner will be appropriately named and open for the taking. That means Diaz will be among of mix of candidates to occupy that spot while Kipnis continues his recovery, joining Giovanny Urshela, Richie Shaffer and Erik Gonzalez. Of that set of players, Diaz has had the most impressive offensive camp. But Shaffer has come on strong, showing the complete swing overhaul he underwent in the offseason was a good decision. Urshela and Gonzalez bring a more known quantity of defensive prowess. How will they separate someone from the field? For Diaz, a couple factors might come into play. First is the always-prevalent service time conversation. Fans hate to hear that, but it s something every team especially small market ones must maintain in the back of their minds. If a club can squeeze an extra year of control out of the situation, that can pay dividends down the road. Francisco Lindor had something similar play out in The team constantly spoke to a litany of things the young shortstop needed to work on, but by promoting the budding superstar when they did, they pushed back Lindor s first arbitration-eligible season and extended their control over him through the 2021 campaign. The flip side of that? The Indians didn t get great production out of that position until they finally brought him to the majors. Maybe that cost themselves a more legitimate shot at playoff contention. Or maybe, by handling Lindor the way they did, they were able to get the most out of his ability. We ll never know. Second, and maybe most logically, perhaps the Indians would prefer to hold off Diaz s arrival in the majors because of Kipnis expected timetable. If the two-time All-Star misses the first two weeks of the 2017 regular season, the team will only need a player capable of holding down an infield spot for that brief stretch. To that point, maybe they d prefer to avoid a stopgap promotion for Diaz, electing to protect him from an early-season promotion and eventual demotion. By keeping him off the 40-man roster, they d also avoid burning an option year by putting Diaz on the major-league squad only to send him back to the minors a few weeks into the season. That might be a better assignment for someone like Urshela, Gonzalez or Shaffer, who don t carry the same perceived prospect upside that Diaz possesses. And when the time comes and based on his spring, it s sooner rather than later Diaz will make the jump, hopefully for good. Having said that, the Indians have fooled us before. Tyler Naquin earned a spot on the club s opening day roster last year despite no previous big-league experience. He was actually better after an early-season demotion in May, rejoining the club in June and eventually becoming a Rookie of the Year finalist in the American League. You can point to his struggles in the final months, but it s not a stretch to say the Indians owe a great deal of their division title last year to Naquin s production.

8 At this point, there s nothing in stone. Diaz s fate has yet to be decided, and the team has a lot to work through in the near future. How they ll handle third base is at the top of the list. It s going to be interesting, that last week, Francona said. I m sure we ll be pretty busy, because there s going to be a lot of decisions to be made, and I m sure that one could affect the next. After a poor start his last time out, Josh Tomlin looked a lot more like Josh Tomlin in Sunday s outing. The righty allowed one earned run in five innings, striking out six. He served up a homer to Chris Herrmann in the second inning, the only major damage of the day. He threw the ball over the plate, and he didn t throw it over the middle, Francona said. He got through five innings, gave up two and he looks like he s right where he needs to be. The same could be said for lefty Boone Logan, who contributed his best appearance of the spring, striking out all three batters he faced Sunday. He s going to be real tough on lefties, Francona said of their offseason signing. I think he has the ability, with that breaking ball, that slider, to get it down underneath their barrel. Situationally, it s hard if they can tie the game or go ahead when you ve got the righties we do, because we d love to let him face lefty-righty-lefty, but he s throwing the ball just fine. Left-hander Hoby Milner had a tough time in the ninth, allowing a pair of runs on four hits, leading to Sunday s tie. The 26-year-old southpaw has allowed seven runs in seven Cactus League innings and could very well be offered back to the Phillies at the end of camp. The Indians selected Milner in the Rule 5 in December, but the signing of Logan effectively ended the team s competition for a second lefty reliever. A few other notes from the day: Carlos Santana is set to return from the World Baseball Classic Monday and is expected to be back in the Indians lineup Wednesday Carlos Carrasco threw a bullpen session Saturday and is scheduled to briefly pitch in a minor-league game Monday. He s lined up to start a major-league game March 24 Tyler Naquin is confident his recent bout with bilateral knee soreness won t keep him out of the lineup long. He could be back in the lineup as soon as Wednesday The latest on Michael Brantley and Cody Anderson can be found here. The Indians will remain in Goodyear Monday to battle the Dodgers prior to Tuesday s scheduled off day. Let s chat then.