3 Cleveland Indians playing their way into 2022 lineup

Cleveland Indians OF Bradley Zimmer

The final month and a half of the season will be a huge one for Bradley Zimmer, because he’s finally doing what it takes to be an everyday player.

In 98 plate appearances since the All-Star break, Zimmer is batting .284 with five home runs and 11 RBIs. Together with Straw, the Indians outfield from center-right might as well be a giant shark, devouring up outs.

Now, the question of health. Zimmer’s never been able to stay healthy, and just staying on the field will be his biggest challenge. Injuries happen, but to be an everyday player in the big leagues, you’ve got to be able to get out there.

I wrote similar thing about Jordan Luplow earlier this season–alas, he got hurt, again, leaving uncertainty in an outfield that was already a huge work in progress.

If Zimmer can secure right field, and we’re all rooting for him to make good on his status as a former first-rounder, that leaves the question of where Josh Naylor would play when he returns. There’s a lot to like about playing Naylor at first base–his natural position.

That brings into question Bobby Bradley, though. Bradley hit the cover off the ball when the Indians promoted him, but his performance was trending downward before he finally landed on the IL.

Strikeouts were always a concern with Bradley, and he was getting punched out on 36 percent of his plate appearances. He’s batting .211 with 11 home runs.

As for Zimmer, he’d really have to bomb out in the final six weeks to not even earn a look next season.