Cleveland Indians 2020 Spring Training: 5 players whose stock is up

Five members of the Cleveland Indians organization who have seen their stocks rise after three weeks of Spring Training in Goodyear.

1. Why James Karinchak toiled in the minors as the Cleveland Indians’ bullpen finessed its way to being one of worst strikeout units in the big leagues remains one of the big boondoggles of 2019.

As the Tribe tried to play catch-up with the Twins, it seemed more important for the organization to play in the Class AAA playoffs than help out the big-league team pass Minnesota.

When Karinchak finally got here, his performance was a relegation. With Brand Hand’s up-and-down 2019 campaign, Karinchak offered relief for those worried about the bullpen’s ability to rack-up strikeouts in the late innings.

MLB.com recently polled “dozens” of players in the Tribe clubhouse, and the results showed the team believes Karinchak is having the most impressive spring.

2, Bobby Bradley is a familiar name to Indians fans, and the Tribe faithful have been waiting for one of their club’s top farm hands to make good at the Major League level.

He was beating the cover off the ball in the minors a season ago, and the fans demanded his promotion. It happened, but Bradley struggled to produce once he got to the show.

Bradley is finally off to a good start this spring, which is something he hadn’t bene able to do the past few years. Two years ago, Bradley came in too skinny, and didn’t produce. Last spring, he was too heavy.

This time around, Bradley looks well conditioned and he’s getting it done at the plate. In 17 plate appearances, he has two mammoth home runs and a 1.040 OPS.

Right fielder Franmil Reyes could open a pathway for Bradley to make the final roster, as long as Bradley keeps hitting. If Reyes can’t play in pasture at Progressive Field, then it becomes harder for Bradley to reach the majors, with first baseman/DH candidates, such as Carlos Santana and Domingo Santana blocking his math.

Perhaps 2020 will be a defining year in Bradley’s career, meaning he either hits his way onto the Indians and stays in Cleveland, doesn’t produce and is labled a “4A Player,” or maybe he gets traded.

With the cost cutting Indians always looking to save, I don’t expect Santana to be back next season, so tucking Bradley away in Columbus is always an option.

3. Catch a glimpse of Jean Carlos Mejia, and he certainly looks the part of a hard throwing pitcher, as he stands  at 6-foot-5, 215 pounds.

He’s been a part of the Indians organization since 2014, pitched at Class A Lynchburg last season, but the Tribe wanted to see what he could do in big-league camp.

Mejia hasn’t disappointed. He’s made four appearances this spring and has yet to surrender a run.

4, Who is Juan Mota? He just touched triple digits a couple days back as a reliever in the seventh inning. Don’t get me wrong, he needs a lot more polishing, but this is someone to keep your eyes on.

Fortunately for Mota, he’s a reliever and if you can’t get your stuff going, you can be fast tracked to the big leagues.

The 24-year-old struck out two batters in the lone inning he’s pitched this spring.

Like Mejia, Mota’s never pitched beyond Lynchburg and based off what I’ve read, he’s a little more rough around the edges that Mejia.

With that said, it’s no secret how the Indians have lacked power arms in the bullpen. The front office has tried to remedy this situation by placing Brad Hand, Karinchak and Emmanuel Clase together this season.

Mota and Mejia (perhaps he ends up being a starter), suggest a crop of prospects are coming to solve the strikeout conundrum in the foreseeable future.

5. Local product Mitch Longo is having a stellar spring, batting .400 in 12 plate appearances. He’s a lifetime .290 in the minors, but struggled last season at Class AA, batting .248.