Indians: 3 players who could be called up and break out in 2021
By Chad Porto
OF – Jake Bauers
People forget that Jake Bauers came over in the same trade that saw Carlos Santana return to Cleveland. Bauers was in fact a huge get for the Indians too, as the Tampa Bay Rays were very high on him.
He struggled some as a 23-year-old rookie, hitting just .201 but also hammering in 11 home runs in just 96 games. His second year in the Majors, this time with Cleveland, he upped his average to .226, while hitting 12 home runs and 43 RBI’s. Similar numbers to his stint in Tampa.
He was demoted to Triple-A, where he hit .247 with three home runs and 15 RBI’s.
Not great numbers on paper but better numbers than that of Bradley Zimmer, and Bauer’s still three-plus years younger than Zimmer. That’s enough to warrant an opportunity. Not just that, but Bauers is versatile. He can play any of the three outfield spots, as well as first base if necessary.
Terry Francona loves his versatile players, and someone like Bauer could be an opening-day starter if he’s able to put together all the things he learned in 2020 into action for 2021. It’s possible that this is Bauer’s peak, somewhere between .226 and .247 but it’s also possible the power that we know he has finally arrived in earnest and he starts bashing the ball.
At this point, anything’s possible.