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Cleveland Indians: Three Non-Roster Invitees with best chance to make Opening Day roster

By Aaron Gershon

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 20: Bryan Shaw #27 of the Cleveland Indians in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 20, 2015 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Indians defeated the Yankees 3-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 20: Bryan Shaw #27 of the Cleveland Indians in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 20, 2015 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Indians defeated the Yankees 3-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 06: Heath Hembree of the Philadelphia Phillies prepares to pitch against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 06, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 06: Heath Hembree of the Philadelphia Phillies prepares to pitch against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 06, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

The non-roster invitee with perhaps the best chance to crack Cleveland’s opening day roster is 32-year-old reliever, Heath Hembree.

Hembree has spent parts of the last eight seasons in the majors, with the majority of those coming with the Boston Red Sox. From 2015-18, Hembree was one of Boston’s most reliable relievers as he posted a career-best 2.65 ERA in 38 relief outings in 2016, a 3.63 ERA in 62 2017 appearances and in 2018 earned a World Series ring while serving as a set-up man for Craig Kimbrel.

Last season, the wheels fell off for the former Red Sox as he pitched to a 5.59 ERA in 11 appearances. He was shipped off to the Philadelphia Phillies midseason, but the change of scenery did not help out the veteran as he posted a sky-high 12.54 ERA in 11 outings.

Despite his awful 2020, a full and normal spring training with a fresh start may help Hembree rediscover his success from just a few years ago and allow him to make the Indians Opening Day roster as a mid-reliever.

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