Cleveland Indians: 3 forgotten players that can make an impact in 2021

With so much focus on which direction the Cleveland Indians will go this offseason, these three players seemingly who have been seemingly forgotten by the fan base could make a big impact in 2021 regardless of which direction the team goes.

The Cleveland Indians will be entering a pivotal offseason. After reaching the postseason four of the past five seasons without winning a championship, they’ll need to decide whether to start an inevitable rebuilding process or take one more shot at winning a World Series.

Regardless of which direction they opt to go, players who did not see the field in 2020 that as a result that have gone seemingly forgotten figure to see far more playing time in a normal 162-game 2021 season.

With a 40-man player poll, COVID-19 concerns and just 60 regular season games to work with, the Indians roster stayed the same for much of the 2020 season, leading to some players from their 2019 roster and minor leaguers that likely would’ve been in the majors in a normal season of the squad.

Here are three of three players that did not get a chance to showcase their talent in 2020 that will likely get to do so for the Cleveland Indians in 2021.

RHP, Emmanuel Clase

Unlike Bauers, Emmanuel Clase‘s own actions cost him a chance to contribute for the Indians in 2020.

Clase was suspended for 80 games in May after testing positive for using Boldenone, which is a banned PED. While the 2020 season was just 60 games, Clase will be eligible to return at the start of the 2021 season and figures to be a key member of the Indians bullpen for several years to come.

The right-hander was acquired by the Indians from the Texas Rangers along with Delino DeShields Jr. in exchange for two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber.

Clase made his MLB debut with Texas in 2019 and was dominant as he posted a 2.31 ERA in 23 1/3 innings of work and averaged the highest velocity of any pitcher in baseball with his cutter at 99.2 MPH.

Despite his high upside, many Indians fans turned their attention to homegrown bullpen arm James Karinchak who developed into a formidable late-inning arm and Brad Hand, who was the only closer in baseball not to blow a save during the 2020 regular season.

Now, Clase will have a chance to reintroduce himself to the fan base and prove he can be a major contributor in the Cleveland bullpen for years to come and make dealing a fan favorite in Kluber worth it.

OF, Daniel Johnson 

The Cleveland Indians Achilles heel in 2020 was the poor production from their outfield. One player who was given a brief chance to solve that problem was 25-year old Daniel Johnson.

Cleveland traded for Johnson in 2018 in a deal that sent longtime catcher Yan Gomes to the Washington Nationals.

Johnson was drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB Draft by Washington and participated in the 2019 after batting .290 with 17 home runs and 77 RBI’s in the minors that season.

In 2020, Johnson made his MLB debut with Cleveland as he was given an opportunity to prove himself but was unable to get the job done as he slashed just .083/.154/.083 with just one hit in 12 at-bats over the course of five games.

If the Indians do choose to rebuild, Johnson may get another chance in the majors. He displayed great power over the course of his Minor League Career and competed among the league’s top prospects in a futures game.

He has plenty of upside, but at age 25, the Indians need to figure out whether or not he will be a difference-maker going forward, making it important to get him playing time in 2021 regardless of which route the front office takes this offseason.