Weekly Wroundtable: Which Indians' player will improve most?

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Aug 2, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Scott Atchison (48) is congratulated in the dugout after pitching during the sixth inning against the Texas Rangers at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Spring Training is always a time for optimism and hope, when box scores don’t matter and every player believes he’s in the best shape of his life. When the season begins, everyone will have the chance to turn those hopes into reality and have the best season of their career, or maybe just a better season than last year’s injury-plagued campaign.

Who will be the Tribe’s best story this season? The Wahoo’s on First team answered that question in this week’s Weekly Wroundtable:

Which player do you think will be most improved this season, and why?

The Indians had several players last season who made major strides in their career. Corey Kluber went from being an unknown starter to being the Cy Young winner. Yan Gomes became one of the best catchers in the league. Michael Brantley improved so much that he nearly won the MVP award.

So who will the Tribe’s most-improved award go to this year?

Next: Can Jose Ramirez prove he's the whole package?

Sep 18, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Jose Ramirez (11) scores a run during the ninth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Can Jose Ramirez prove he’s the whole package?

Kyle Downing: I think that Jose Ramirez will be most improved this season. He’s had time to get acclimated to the big leagues, and his contact rates are off the charts. During the 2014 season, no player on the team had a higher contact rate on pitches outside of the strike zone than Ramirez, and only Brantley had a lower swinging strike rate. He struck out in only 13.1 percent of his plate appearances, good for the third lowest on the team. Ramirez plays great defense at shortstop, and his ability to put the bat on the ball bodes well for his development. His future in Cleveland looks bright.

Will Brandon Moss and Nick Swisher rediscover their lost power?

Richard Clark: My most improved player candidate, though he wasn’t on the Tribe last season, is Brandon Moss. His 2014 splits tell the whole story, as he got off to an incredible start batting .268 with 21 homers and 66 RBI en route to the All-Star game before injuring his hip and skidding to the finish line. His hip dropped his average to a dismal .173, with only four homers and 15 RBI. His two bombs in the Wild card game after receiving a cortisone shot, and his speedy return to this season’s Spring Training lineup are encouraging signs for Moss, and I believe he can sustain his first half production from 2014 over the course of a season with good health. Switching from the spacious Coliseum to lefty-friendly Progressive Field should boost his numbers as well. I envision Pronkville/Brohio becoming Mossville soon enough.

Brian Brochetti: Many may think be a bit silly to pick a 34-year-old on the bad side of double knee surgery to be this year’s most improved player, but Nick Swisher has the attitude and drive to not disappoint his “hometown” fans. The former first round pick of the Oakland A’s has averaged 27 home runs, 87 RBIs, and an OBP of .353 over his 11 year career. Last year, due to injuries, Swisher only played 97 games while sporting just eight home runs, 42 RBIs, and an OBP of .278. He is “grinding” (in his own words), and he is dying to get back on the field. When he does, I think Swisher will be even more appreciative of his opportunity and will make the most of it. Plus, baseball is a game of averages, and his numbers from last year are simply bound to improve.

Next: Can Carlos Santana and Lonnie Chisenhall have more than half a season of success?

Sep 14, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana (41) hits an RBI double in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Detroit won 4-6. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Can Carlos Santana and Lonnie Chisenhall have more than half a season of success?

Justin Lada: The most improved player this season had a pretty good season in 2014, but should be more consistent this year. I think this is the year Carlos Santana avoids the slows tart and keeps his average around .260-.270 for a change. I think 30 home runs this year is attainable, and having a hitter like Moss behind him will be a huge boost. Plus, now he is a full-time first baseman, and that takes a lot of weight off of him. He’s not trying learn how not to be a disaster at third base, or avoiding concussions while catching. In that process, he also became a pretty solid defensive first baseman.

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Brian Heise: I think the most improved player for the Indians this coming season will be Lonnie Chisenhall. As a fan base, we’ve all been waiting patiently for Chisenhall to deliver on the promise of his talent. Last season, it looked like he finally began to turn the corner, and he broke out in a big way. In the process, Chiz took a firm hold of the everyday job at third base and built up what was once a very shaky level of confidence. By season’s end, he had a swagger about him that we hadn’t seen before. Because of last year’s success, I think the time is right for Chisenhall to emerge as one of the best third basemen in all of baseball. It’s clear that he understands what pitchers are doing and is able to make adjustments. That’s something that comes from experience; experience he was finally allowed the chance to gain in 2014. If he is able to make the leap to the next level as a major leaguer in terms of his overall offensive production, the Indians will have a real shot at not only winning the Central division, but also making a deep postseason run.

Next: Will Trevor Bauer and T.J. House follow in Kluber's footsteps?

Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Will Trevor Bauer and T.J. House follow in Kluber’s footsteps?

Andrew Schmid: My pick for the most improved player next year is Trevor Bauer. He’s getting older and more mature, and this is going to be the year that he puts it all together. He has potential, as evidenced by his being the third selection in the 2011 draft, and his command has improved each season. Bauer has yet to walk a batter across 12 innings of work this Spring Training. Combining this with his off-season workout routine, he should be primed to improve greatly. Also, the Indians have started to implement some of his workout methods. While this may seem insignificant, it shows that they are embracing him more, and that should only help with Bauer’s confidence.

Will Jason Kipnis and Zach McAllister return to 2013 form?

Joe Gerberry: My pick for most improved from last year will be a fairly easy one: Jason Kipnis. There’s no way his 2015 could be as bad as his 2014. After making the All-Star team in 2013 with a slash line of .284/.366/.452, including 17 home runs and 30 stolen bases, he suffered a strained oblique and had a disastrous 2014. He’s been working out more this winter, getting more streamlined rather than ripped like he was in 2014, focusing on flexibility and conditioning. A healthy Kipnis hitting near the top of the order could change the dynamic of this team and help bring up the defensive side as well.

Matthew Bretz: The Cleveland Indian that will be the most improved this year will be Zach McAllister. Last spring, McAllister entered as a lock for the rotation after two solid seasons in the rotation. He got off to a hot start in April (2.92 FIP); however, the month ended with him making a start on 3 days rest and he was never the same after that. Three weeks later, he was on the DL, and he became a rotation afterthought. Eventually, he lost his rotation spot and the bullpen seemed likely. However, as a starter, McAllister actually improved in 2014, posting a career best 3.80 FIP and 4.10 xFIP. He’ll use his experience in the bullpen in the same way that Carlos Carrasco did last year, and I fully expect him to win the final rotation spot and have a breakout season for the Indians in 2015.

Next: Can Nick Hagadone finally be a shutdown reliever?

Jul 23, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Nick Hagadone (50) pitches in the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Minnesota Twins win 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Can Nick Hagadone finally be a shutdown reliever?

Katrina Putnam: My pick for most improved would be Nick Hagadone. I can’t think of how many times I’ve felt like Hagadone was the least likely to improve, but I’m finally buying into the hype. The lefty has pitched four innings of run-less, hit-less, walk-less baseball, striking out three of the 12 batters that he’s faced. Last season with Cleveland, he struck out nearly 30 percent of batters and walked just 6.6 percent — the highest strikeout rate of his career, but also a walk rate that was nearly half that of any prior season. Combine that with a 3.26 FIP and a 2.70 ERA, and Hagadone seems primed for an even bigger 2015.

Next: Building the Ultimate Indians Starting Lineup

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Weekly Wroundtable: Which Cleveland Indians’ player will improve most?