Bradley Zimmer and Yu Chang could be keys for Cleveland Indians in 2020

The Cleveland Indians finalized their roster and thanks to strong summers, Bradley Zimmer and Yu Chang made the roster, and they could be invaluable.

The Cleveland Indians will be bringing Bradley Zimmer with them after all when the season starts. Zimmer, who had struggled to find consistency since being called up in 2017, had a monstrous 2020 summer training, where he hit over .500 and showed the same brilliance as a hitter he had in college. Zimmer became one of the 30 men on the main roster and will be joined by fellow-surprise candidate Yu Chang, who is the first position player from Taiwan to make the Indians opening day roster.

Zimmer and Chang will provide some real power off the bench, and Zimmer should be able to play his way into the starting lineup as the sixty game season continues on. With the club carrying a total of six outfielders, it’s entirely possible Zimmer doesn’t see that many at-bats but it’s always possible that  Zimmer keeps this hot-streak going into the regular season and earns more and more at-bats instead of Domingo Santana or Oscar Mercado.

As for Chang, he can play third base, second base or shortstop and hit for power while doing so. Chang, who’s only 24, could be a huge addition for the team not just in 2020 but beyond. With Jason Kipnis gone and Francisco Lindor already half-way out the door, Chang could be a long-term replacement for either player.

Assuming he’s able to continue this production and improve as a hitter that is.

Neither man will be in the opening day lineup, nor is it guaranteed either man gets enough attention or at-bats to garner anything more than a backup role in the shortened season. That said, if any two players are poised for breakout performances this year, it could be Zimmer and Chang.