Cleveland Indians Days of Future Past: Grady Sizemore

Like every other team in Major League Baseball, the Cleveland Indians employ numerous players throughout their organization, from the big-league club in Cleveland to their rookie league team in Arizona and beyond. And like every other Major League franchise, the Indians add and subtract from this player pool on a regular basis. This irregular series will serve to post notice when a former Indians player has done something noteworthy with a quick look back at the player’s time in Cleveland.

Player: OF/DH Grady Sizemore

Current Team: ~~Boston Red Sox~~

Year(s) in Indians Organization: 2002 – 2012 (made Major League debut with Indians in 2004)

Jun 12, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Grady Sizemore (38) hits an RBI double during the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Why He Still Isn’t in Cleveland: Injuries. Once the face of the Indians franchise, Sizemore missed major portions of 2010 and 2011 before missing all of 2012, leading to a parting of ways between Sizemore and the Indians. After sitting out all of 2013, Sizemore made a comeback, signing a Major-League deal with the Boston Red Sox and making the club after a strong spring training. Sizemore wasn’t the type of player initially intended for this series, but many Indians fans still hold a soft spot for Grady (the author of this post included).

What He Did: Unfortunately, it’s more what the Red Sox did. Alex Speer, a Red Sox beat writer for WEEI, has broken the news that Sizemore will be designated for assignment by the Red Sox to clear room for 3B Garin Cecchini.

*tear* RT @alexspeier: Garin Cecchini is up, and Grady Sizemore has been designated for assignment
— Jacob L. Rosen (@JacobLRosen) June 17, 2014

Sizemore was able to stay healthy, but wasn’t producing at the plate, posting a .216/.288/.324 slashline with two home runs. Formerly a centerfielder, injuries forced Sizemore into the corner outfield slots with Boston, and Marc Normandin of Over the Monster said the recent emergence of Brock Holt made Sizemore expendible.

Reunion time? Not likely, as the Indians probably don’t want to pay Sizemore’s major-league salary, and, depressingly, it looks like Sizemore might be done. It’s hard to be too disappointed in Sizemore, though, given that by mid-2012 it was assumed he would never play professional baseball again, let alone in the big leagues. If this is the end for Sizemore, his final two games came against his former club, with his last hit, an RBI double, coming against the Indians on June 12. Regardless, best of luck to Grady Sizemore in whatever happens next from the staff at Wahoo’s on First.

Notice a player you remember being in the Indians organization? We’re ever-vigilant, but sometimes we miss guys, too! Send us an email at wahoosonfirst@gmail.com and let us know which former Indians farmhand or player is making noise elsewhere.