Cleveland Indians: 2 players who’ve justified team’s faith and 1 who hasn’t

Which Cleveland Indians have repaid the team’s faith and who has not?

Coming into 2021 the Cleveland Indians had plenty of question marks, particular in relation to the offense. That reality left the door of opportunity open for fringe players, both on the major league club, and in the minors, to make a mark whenever the situation presented itself. Conversely, players who broke camp with the team out of Spring, or were called up to replace a struggling or injured teammate, were equally at risk of squandering the team’s faith in them.

There are, arguably, several of candidates who sit on both sides of the fence, being that there has been a lot of moving pieces, so far, in the first half of the season. But I am going to focus on three individuals, in particular, who have played or pitched a decent portion of the season.

Unfortunately, that excludes Bobby Bradley, who has taken the bull by the horns since he earned his first call up of the season, and is hitting .375 in just 32 big league at bats. I also think it would be wrong to include him since the Tribe front office showed a clear lack of faith in him by not giving him a spot right out of spring training, after hitting .303 in March.

Some honorable mentions are worthy of note before I reveal my final verdict. Despite a .177 average, and striking out 30% of the time, on the season, Jordan Luplow provided some pop in the early going – hitting six dingers in April – while delivering in the clutch. Luplow is hitting .360, with a .500BP, with RISP, and an even more eye-watering .444 average and .583 OBP with RISP and two outs. But he hasn’t played since May 26 due to an ankle injury, and I can’t give too much kudos to a guy hitting. 177.

On the negative side, I want to give an ignominious shout out to Logan Allen. He didn’t make the final list given that he was booted down to Triple-A after just 15 2/3 innings – although those innings managed to span five starts (oof!) – and hasn’t pitched since April.

Allen was mediocre in a brief 2020, but the Cleveland Indians rewarded him with a rotation spot in 2021. His last three starts before being optioned to Columbus amounted to just 5 2/3 innings, while allowing an astonishing 13 runs and six home runs. Nothing much has changed in his fortunes since he was sent to the minors on April 28.

Nick Sandlin

How many of you were expecting this name to crop up? Relief pitcher Nick Sandlin has flown under the radar since his call-up in April to replace the aforementioned Logan Allen. Most of the Indians relievers have been cast in the shadow of flame-throwing dynamos James Karinchak and Emmanual Clase, but more attention should be paid to the valuable innings Sandlin has given the Indians.

In 17 2/3 innings, for the Indians, Sandlin owns a 2.04ERA and has sent down an impressive 26 batters via the strikeout. A lot of those relief appearances haven’t come late in close games, since Cleveland has a formidable late inning trio, but he has provided meaningful innings pitched in the middle innings during a tough stretch where the Tribe’s starting pitching has wobbled due to injury and inconsistency.

So far Sandlin has repaid the Indians’ faith in him, especially as he only had nine total innings pitched in Triple-A, and his role should expand later in games as the Tribe’s bullpen racks up innings due to the wounded starting rotation which currently only has one true, healthy and reliable starter.

Triston McKenzie

I hate to leave on a negative note, but this next name has to be the biggest disappointment for Tribe management and fans, alike. Starting pitcher Triston McKenzie looked the business in the 30-something frames he hurled in 2020. He came with much fanfare and showed his talent with the ease in which he made hitters look foolish. He has continued to, at times, make opposing batters look comical at the plate. Sadly, he has also proven himself to be the most chaotic arm in almost any rotation in baseball.

In 42 1/3 innings pitched in the Majors in 2021, McKenzie has racked up 49 Ks; good enough for a 12.5 K per 9IP ratio – impressive. However, at the same time he has walked 39 batters – almost one per inning – to lead the league. And he has only allowed 28 hits! Which is the most frustrating part of it all.

Without the deluge of free passes, McKenzie would be one of the best pitchers in baseball right now. But he cannot stop getting into three-ball counts and walking batters. Which puts his team in a precarious position to compete in ball games, and also puts undue pressure on the bullpen since he rarely lasts five innings due to high pitch count.

McKenzie still has plenty of time to rectify things and an opportunity to do it at the major league level given the emergency the Cleveland Indians are in when it comes to their rotation. Maybe come September, there will be an article devoted to the wonder that is the man they call ‘Sticks’. But, as of now, he represents the most disappointing player for the Indians this season. And that includes Yu Chang. Poor company, indeed.