Friday 5: Biggest Questions Facing the Cleveland Indians During Spring Training
By Cody Norman
How healthy are Nick Swisher and Brandon Moss heading into the season?
Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
If they plan to compete this season, the Tribe will need either Nick Swisher or Brandon Moss – or both – to be fully healthy. While Swisher seems to be progressing slowly, limited to live batting practice and a structured running regimen, Moss is getting closer and closer to making his return to the field.
-Nick Swisher is a career .251 hitter with the potential to drive in 80-90 runs a year. Unfortunately for the Tribe, Swisher has not come close to approaching those numbers in his first two seasons with the team. Instead, the former Buckeye spent much of 2014 hovering around the Mendoza line before hitting the disabled list with two bad knees. If he can return to pre-Cleveland form this season, he brings a dynamic bat to the sixth or seventh spot in the lineup.
-Brandon Moss is coming off hip surgery and is expected to begin playing exhibition games as early as next week. After nearly falling out of the league, Moss saw a resurgence in Oakland and belted 76 homeruns of the last 2.5 seasons. He is a career .248 hitter with the power to make some serious noise hitting behind Carlos Santana in the Indians order.
Next: All-Star Again?