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Cleveland Indians: Breaking Down the 25-Man Roster

By Gregory Kula

Oct 14, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians players including Francisco Lindor (12) and Jose Ramirez (11) celebrate after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in game one of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 14, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians players including Francisco Lindor (12) and Jose Ramirez (11) celebrate after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in game one of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 6, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts with second baseman
October 6, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts with second baseman /

Second/Shortstop

On the Team

What do you do with one of the best duos at first base and DH? You pair them with a highlight reel middle infield.

Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor are simply amazing to watch.

Kipnis built on his 2015 by more than doubling his home run total (9 to 23!) and raising his RBI total by 30. He was respectable in the playoffs while hitting .290 in the World Series with a pair of homers and he looks to have found his stride.

A down season in 2014 had a lot of fans wondering if he could really put it all together, but after the last two seasons, it is clear his injuries hurt his numbers before. Plus the drive inside “Dirtbag” (Manny Acta still getting shout-outs in 2017) is unmatched.

Although 2016 was Lindor’s first full season, he hit .301 with 20 doubles, 15 home runs, and 78 RBI. His glove was even more fun to watch as he turned 83 double plays and had a great fielding percentage (.982) that was actually his highest in his professional career.

Putting an All-Star shortstop with an All-Star second baseman is almost unfair to the rest of the league, but the top of the lineup and the middle of the infield is secured for a few years with Lindor and Kipnis is in town.

Down on the Farm

The other Rodriguez in camp, who may just make the team as the utilityman is named Ronny. He hit .258 last season in Columbus and is an average fielder at a lot of positions. He could make the team if Michael Martinez, Erik Gonzalez, and Yandy Diaz have bad springs.

Stamets is much better at shortstop than at the other infield positions, but he can play them all to some degree and could end up being a new Joe Inglett. He had a good start to the season in Akron, but Columbus hit him hard, as he hit a very low .164.

He’s at camp, but shouldn’t make the team unless ten things go wrong.

The 22-year-old hit .299 with 21 stolen bases in his first professional season for two teams. He did make 16 errors, but he should be a factor (or a trade chip) in a few years.

Maybe the shortstop with the highest ceiling in the Indians system, it would not be surprising to see him moved to another team this season. After tearing the ball’s cover off in the fall league, he could be exactly what another team needs, while the Indians already have a “pretty good” shortstop in Lindor for years to come. Plus other minor leaguers like Willi Castro, Mark Mathias, and Nolan Jones (though he is primarily a third baseman) are also in the system. The middle of the infield is packed, and Chang could be a good bargaining piece.

Odd Ideas

  • Michael Martinez and Erik Gonzalez

If either Lindor or Kipnis goes down, Jose Ramirez will likely step into their role on the field. If this isn’t the plan (or Ramirez is hurt also), Martinez or Gonzalez are both good enough to play at the MLB level. Neither is a Kip or Frankie, but hopefully, it never comes down to this. 

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