Cleveland Indians: 5 internal options to replace Cesar Hernandez at second

5 internal options for the Cleveland Indians to replace Cesar Hernandez at second

On Thursday (July 29) the Cleveland Indians made their first move of the trade deadline, dealing Cesar Hernandez to the Chicago White Sox. The Tribe received in return a left-handed prospect, Konnor Pilkington, but only a pitching prospect in return leaves a hole at second base for the big league club to try and fill. Luckily, if there’s any position to need a player to fill a spot, it would be the middle infield.

In preparation for the departure of Francisco Lindor, the front office made it a priority to acquire middle infielders. Now, those prospects are coming close to getting their shot in the majors. What still remains to be seen is if the team will turn to prospects who already have tapped into their service time or if they will give more players their MLB debut.

One player that can be ruled out from contention is the club’s No. 2 prospect, Tyler Freeman. Freeman was announced to be out for the season on Thursday with a torn labrum. While he was still in Double-A, Freeman was playing at a high level and could have been a player to get a look later in the season.

Even without Freeman, the Cleveland Indians will have a deep pool of players to select from to take over the role at second base. Odds are the team will attempt to find the stopgap amongst the players that have already used service time, saving the other prospects for next season. No matter who it ends up being, there’s sure to be a competition for the role moving forward.

With so many hands trying to get time, the player that gets the first crack will likely have a short leash, especially if the other prospects begin making a strong push for playing time themselves. It’s a good problem to have, but it might take the rest of the season, at least, to figure out who the long-term solution will be.

Owen Miller, UTIL, Cleveland Indians

The corresponding move on the major league roster when Hernandez was traded was calling up Owen Miller. After beginning the season on a hot streak in Triple-A, Miller got his first taste of the big leagues and fell short of expectations, slashing just .106/.160/.128. Now, he’s found his swing again in Columbus and will rejoin the Cleveland Indians with a big opportunity ahead of him.

During his first stint, Miller started just nine games, but a third of those came at second base. He totaled 15 chances over 28 innings and was error-free. In Columbus, second has been his main position as well. He’s totaled 187 innings over 21 starts at the position, committing just three errors for a .972 fielding percentage.

As for at the plate, Miller bounced back in July after struggling through June. It wasn’t the offensive explosion we saw in May, but rather a middle ground. In July, Miller has slashed .253/.329/.480 with five doubles and four home runs.

Those stats aren’t great, but it might be enough to get the Tribe through the season at second. Miller is most likely not the long-term answer, but his service time has already been ticking. Using him over an up-and-coming prospect is the better option long-term. While he might not light up the position, he can hold down the fort through the end of the year.

Andres Gimenez, 2B/SS, Cleveland Indians

After beginning the season in Cleveland, Andres Gimenez was sent down to Triple-A Columbus and has been there since. One of the players from the Francisco Lindor trade, Gimenez has been able to find his groove in Columbus. The issue is figuring out who moves over to second base.

Gimenez began the season at shortstop in Cleveland and has played just four games at second base in his brief major league career. However, when he was sent down Amed Rosario stepped into the role at short and while his glove isn’t as strong, Rosario has found consistency in his bat since the position change. Do you really want to mess with that right now?

As for Gimenez, he has played 15 games at second for Columbus. Registering 122 innings at the spot, he has two errors for a .969 fielding percentage. While limited, that’s more time at second this year than Rosario has, which is zero.

At the plate, Gimenez has been finding his stride there as well. Over the last 28 days in Triple-A, Gimenez is slashing an incredible .364/.462/.545 with three doubles and a home run. While the extra bases aren’t flooding in, the high batting average is a great sign. Statistically, Gimenez is the best immediate option, but the team might be a bit more cautious with his service time.

Ernie Clement, UTIL, Cleveland Indians

Out of all the players on this list, Ernie Clement is the only one that was on Cleveland’s active roster at the time of the Hernandez trade. Serving as a true utility man, Clement has been holding his own in the majors and given his position at the time of the trade might get a significant early look.

Starting a total of 15 games in Cleveland, Clement has logged nine at third and six at second with his one major league error being at second base. As for at the plate, he’s doing what most would probably expect from a utility infielder who hasn’t really drawn a lot of hype. Through 58 official at-bats, he’s slashing .224/.286/.259 with a pair of doubles of four RBI.

Those numbers aren’t great, so if Clement wants to get more playing time he will have to show improvement. Being in Cleveland already could help him, but it could also hurt him. He might not have as long of a leash as some of the other players since he’s been up for a bit. He won’t have any sort of adjustment period cushion.

Clement won’t be the long-term answer, but he can be a short-term band-aid. If Cleveland needs a dozen or so starts while they evaluate their options, then Clement can fill that need.

Nolan Jones, 3B, Cleveland Indians

So far this season the Columbus Clippers have played Nolan Jones at third base for 43 starts, right field for 20 starts and first base for one. As you can see, second base isn’t listed, so why would he be an internal candidate to replace Cesar Hernandez? Because Jose Ramirez can play second.

Ramirez originally came up as a utility infielder and found his home at third. However, Ramirez has played second plenty in his career and started just shy of 60 games there in 2017 when Gio Urshela and Yandy Diaz were coming up. This could be a similar situation.

While Cleveland is trying to transition their No. 1 prospect to the outfield, playing Jones at his natural position during his MLB debut could be the better option. It takes away some of the nerves and stress of the promotion while putting him in a more familiar spot.

At the dish is where Jones needs to show improvement. Over the last 28 days he’s slashing just .211/.310/.447. Now, the positive is that he has five home runs and 12 RBI. The negative is he has 27 strikeouts over 22 games.

While the hype around Jones might be pushing him to be in Cleveland, he’s simply just not ready. The bat isn’t where it needs to be yet and he doesn’t have a true position open. There’s no sense in rushing his arrival if there isn’t a clear spot for him.

Predicting Cleveland Indians Second Baseman

Given the state of the season for Cleveland, they could still make a Wild Card run. As long as that is within shouting distance the team probably won’t take a chance at second just yet. Ernie Clement and Owen Miller seem to be the first ones to get a shot and it makes sense.

Both are utility infielders and aren’t part of the long-term plans so service time isn’t an issue. However, don’t be surprised if it’s a race to earn one spot with the other being sent down. Clement and Miller are both right-handed batters, so a platoon with the two doesn’t make as much as sense.

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However, Andres Gimenez is a left-handed hitter. If it were up to me, Gimenez would be playing second every day in Columbus while Clement and Miller battle it out in Cleveland. Once Gimenez seems comfortable, he comes up and takes over second with either Clement or Miller becoming a utility player again and the other being sent down to Columbus.

From that point, it could be a platoon between Gimenez and Clement/Miller or it could become Gimenez’s spot to lose. Either seems like a likely scenario.

As for Arias and Jones, they are too important to the club’s future plans. Even a late September call-up wouldn’t make sense to start their service time. If one does get the shot, Arias seems to be the one that’s more ready of the two. However, I wouldn’t hold my breath on seeing them in Cleveland this year.

Long-story short, Andres Gimenez is my favorite to end the season as the starting second baseman in Cleveland. I see the move of calling up Miller as buying a bit more time to give Gimenez more starts at second in Columbus.