Weekly Wroundtable: Cleveland Indians’ Spring Training Surprises

Mar 23, 2015; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Cleveland Indians first baseman Brandon Moss (44) reacts after hitting in the fifth against the Oakland Athletics during a spring training game at Goodyear Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Downing: Brandon Moss and his power swing have been the biggest surprise for me. I expected Moss to get a somewhat slow start, but he came out of the gates mashing like he was hitting golf balls with a billy club. His power stroke is a pretty good sign that he’s recovered from off-season surgery. And if he hasn’t fully recovered yet, I’m afraid to know what he can do when he does.

Katrina Putnam: The biggest surprise to me this spring is how rarely we’ve seen Jason Kipnis. It seemed like he had finally put his injury issues behind him, with an altered off-season workout regimen that focused more on flexibility than pure strength. Yet, he’s only played in eight games due to minor muscle strains, earning just 21 at-bats this spring. He’s hitting .238/.333/.333, without any home runs or stolen bases, or even so much as an extra-base hit. Hopefully he’ll return to his 2013 All-Star form once the season begins, but so far, he’s just been notably absent.

Next: Michael Bourn & Francisco Lindor Show Off Their Talents