Cleveland Indians: Importance of Kipnis and Brantley’s 2018 spring training

The Cleveland Indians can benefit from healthy seasons from both Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley, and they both appear to be on the right track.

If you were to do a poll of 100 current MLB players and ask them, “Is spring training important for position players?” about 85 of them would say no. It is a pretty well-known fact that spring training is all for the pitchers.

That’s why pitchers and catchers report about a week earlier than the other players. Spring training is designed for pitchers to build up their strength and stamina and for position players to work on their tan and golf game.

That leaves 15 players that said it was important for position players. Five of those guys are probably older players who just need that extra time to get the ole’ joints oiled up.

Eight of those players are likely switch hitters because if you’ve ever listened to a switch hitter talk about spring training, it sounds like most of them have to completely re-learn how to bat the opposite way. That leaves two players and if they are on the Cleveland Indians, they would likely be Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley.

Jason Kipnis

I will never forget watching Jason Kipnis do his best Kenny Lofton impression by speeding around from second to score on Jon Lester‘s wild pitch in the 2016 World Series. I will forever remember jumping up out of my seat when Kip smoked that homer at Wrigley. Despite all these fond memories, I can admit that there were many times I wished for Kipnis to be traded last year.

Kipnis started the year on the DL with shoulder issues and was placed on the DL twice that summer with hamstring issues. Jose Ramirez was having an MVP-caliber year and seeing him and Frankie in the middle had moments that reminded us of Omar and Roberto.

It just didn’t seem like there was a spot for Kip to come back to. But Kipnis showed his love for Tito and this team by going to back to his college days and going back to the outfield. With Bradley Zimmer back healthy, what will 2018 hold for Kip?

Well so far, Kip has decided to launch homers all across Goodyear, Arizona. Kipnis has batted .429 with six home runs. He has looked healthy and ready to make a return to the form that took him to the All-Star game in 2013 and 2015.

Despite talks about the Mets being interested in Kipnis over the winter, Kipnis wants to be with the Tribe and prove that 2017 was just a mirage.

Michael Brantley

Michael Brantley. Dr. Smooth. Unfortunately, for the last two years, he has seemed more like Dr. Glass (that was corny, I know). In two years, Brantley has played a total of 101 games. Taking non-existent 2016 out the equation, Brantley’s 2017 season left us wanting more.

More from Away Back Gone

• Cleveland Guardians tantalizingly close to locking up AL Central tiebreakers
• Cleveland Guardians: Terry Francona becomes meme in profanity-laced ejection
• Say goodbye to defensive shifts and hello to bigger bases, pitch clock in 2023
• Cleveland Guardians: Shane Bieber second-fastest to 800 strikeouts in major-league history
• The next week will make or break the Cleveland Guardians’ season

Brantley was an All-Star once again but his season came to an end after injuring his ankle on multiple occasions. The offseason brought another surgery  (his third in as many years) and the inevitable question of what would happen to Dr. Smooth in 2018.

The Indians showed their confidence in the health and future of Michael Brantley by exercising their $12 million option.

When spring training started, Brantley was still rehabbing but as the weeks went by, we heard rumblings of him making his return. There was news that in his first minor league game he hit a home run, but we wanted to see it in person.

It appears that 2018 Michael Brantley is an improved version of the All-Star. By improved, I don’t mean he looks like he is going to be better than he was before, despite the rocket he sent to right field. When I say improved, I mean he looks more durable.

His legs and bottom half look much bigger. Compared to before, he has tree trunks for legs. Brantley’s upper body looks stronger as well. Michael Brantley looks like he is made of steel instead of glass in 2018.

Next: Breaking down the 2018 Opening Day bullpen

Even though he is starting the year on the DL, Tito has assured us that there has been no setbacks and they just simply want to give him more time to prepare. If there is one thing that all Tribe fans can agree on, it’s #InTitoWeTrust.