CLEVELAND — It has long been said that for athletes, “The best ability is availability,” but to Major League Baseball managers with roster limits, versatility is a close second.
After undergoing a roster overhaul during the offseason through trades and losses in free agency, the Indians are looking to reshape their outfield with young players, all of whom can move around and play different positions.
“If you look at the teams that won last year, they all had a guy that they could move around,” Indians manager Terry Francona said at the start of spring training. “When you do have that guy and you trust him, it’s really helpful. It can save your roster.
“It’s more than just the numbers. It’s being reliable defensively, being able to get a starter off their feet and knowing that the game is not going to change because you had somebody that’s played three positions in three days. That’s hard to do, but it’s very valuable.”
Thirty-year old Leonys Martin is the “elder statesmen” of the group, and is looking to bounce back from a harrowing first few months in Cleveland.
Martin suffered from a life-threatening bacterial infection shortly after his arrival in Cleveland, but after weeks of treatment and months of rehabilitation, he is back healthy and ready to get back to playing baseball again.
In just six games with the Indians last season, Martin collected five hits in 15 at-bats (.333 batting average) with two home runs, four runs batted in, three runs scored and one walk against two strikeouts. He had .353 on-base, .733 slugging and 1.086 on-base-plus-slugging percentages.
“I feel like we know him more than six games because we’ve been through so much with him,” Francona said. “He’s got that smile, and then, when we went through our one-on-ones, I reminded him, ‘When you go out on that field, you remind yourself to enjoy it because of what you’ve been through.’
“I don’t think he needs a reminder, but it definitely feels good to see him looking healthy and strong. We were around him enough to know he’s a really wonderful kid. We’re really pleased, obviously, that he’s healthy first and foremost, but to have him back, we’re happy and thrilled about that, too.”
Along with Martin, the Indians are looking for a strong return from Tyler Naquin.
Limited to just 61 games because of an injury that required surgery and the insertion of three screws into his femur to stabilize his right hip, Naquin is a lifetime .280 hitter with 27 doubles, five triples and 17 home runs with 67 runs batted in and 78 runs scored.
“Nothing would make me happier than having a team where you felt you were doing them a disservice by taking them out of the lineup,” Francona said. “I bet every manager feels that way. If you have to fight to get your extra guys in there, that’s a fight that everybody will take.
“I do think Naq’s in a good place. I think having the surgery was a good decision on his part. He’s in really good shape. His lower half is stronger. I think he’s situated to be successful.”
