Cleveland Indians: 3 players who could have a breakout year
By Chad Porto
Bradley Zimmer
The hype around Bradley Zimmer was once as high as it was for Francisco Lindor. He had an eye for the ball, hitting .368 for a season in college, and had fast hands that crossed the strike zone with ease. He also had blazing speed on the basepaths and many saw him as the complete player. A transcendent talent. Many expected him to be the next great offensive player, yet around 2016 his ability to hit for average nosedived, and he bottomed out. Injuries to his shoulder and oblique had sapped him of his talents.
He missed most of 2018 and nearly all of 2019. Prior to that in 2017, he wasn’t exactly making people fantasize about him becoming the next Ken Griffey Jr. either. So 2020 is a season of dyer expectations for Zimmer. Can he brush off the injuries and return to form? Well, it’s possible.
If we as sports fans know anything, it’s that when a situation is do-or-die, players generally find a way to step up. Be it for their careers, a new hefty contract, or for that last shot at a title; winners find a way to win. If Zimmer is ever truly going to live up to his lofty expectations, he’ll find a way to do just that in 2020.
Good news for fans, Zimmer looks like he’s back. He’s hitting .571 (12-for-21) with four home runs and eight RBI so far in summer training (as of July 21) and he’s absolutely looking like the player the team expected him to be when he was drafted. Could he finally be the guy the team needs him to be? It sure looks like it but it’s only summer training and it’s only a small sample size.
Yet, he has done enough to warrant an opening day roster spot.