Cleveland Indians Have an Outfield Full of Misfits

The Cleveland Indians have captured lightning in a bottle with their group of outfielders

At the start of the season, we all knew that Michael Brantley would miss some time. We also knew that the Cleveland Indians’ outfield would be a bit of an issue until his return, but we had heard news suggesting that the delay might not actually be that long. Brantley even went so far as to suggest that he might be back for Opening Day. 

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Instead, Brantley has logged just a few games with the team through late July, and it seems to be one complication after another with him. The outfield has lacked its star player and former Most Valuable Player candidate, but it has actually been a strength. Just a few weeks ago, I noted that the outfield was actually one of the better ones in the league.

This in itself is a small miracle considering that the outfield is a group of misfits. Of the four players who are currently receiving somewhat consistent playing time, Tyler Naquin, Rajai Davis, Jose Ramirez, and Lonnie Chisenhall, only half of them are outfielders by trade and the other two are performing much better than would otherwise be expected.

The most productive of the four has also been the one who has played the least. Tyler Naquin, a 25-year-old rookie, has appeared in 63 games this season for the Cleveland Indians. This in itself is a minor victory, as he has struggled to stay healthy in the past. Most of his at-bats have come against right-handed pitchers, and he has indeed shown a fairly sizable platoon split.

Typically, a team would not want to rely on a rookie to play such a large role during a playoff hunt, but Naquin has seemingly exceeded all expectations. He has nearly doubled his minor league power totals after making adjustments to his batting stance, and he has shown an improved ability to make consistent contact. While his strikeout rate is a bit higher than desired and batting average on balls in play suggests that he has benefitted from some good luck, his contributions have been undeniable.

Another big part of the Cleveland Indians’ outfield that does not exactly belong on a team with playoff dreams is Rajai Davis. The veteran is almost 36 years old, meaning that most would expect his best days to be behind him. In a feat that has defied all logic, he has managed to find a resurgence in the speed and power departments all while continuing to be a valuable member of the outfield. Perhaps he has found the fountain of youth that eluded former Indians Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher, and Travis Hafner.

As for the other two members of the Indians outfield, Lonnie Chisenhall and Jose Ramirez are not even original outfielders. Chisenhall was the team’s third baseman of the future up until midway through last season, and Ramirez had yet to play outside of the infield until making the same transition last year. Incredibly, the duo has been roughly average defenders in their new positions despite their relative lack of experience.

Also of note, Chisenhall and Ramirez failed to let learning new positions hamper their offensive outputs. In fact, both have improved their batting lines from last season to the current one, and the adjustments appear to be sustainable. The feat is quite laudable, as it has given both the Indians and their careers new life.

Next: Indians Slug Way to 11-4 Win Over Royals

That the Indians have found a crafty way to improve their roster is no surprise. After all, this is a team with a small budget that can seldom afford the big-name free agents. Spending their prospect capital on short-term improvements is almost never an option either, although recent rumors surrounding the Indians’ involvement in Andrew Miller and Jonathan Lucroy could signal changes on this front. Fortunately, the Indians have been successful in finding a bit of magic in a group of aging veterans, unproven rookies, and transplanted infielders.