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

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.