After an offseason filled with more questions than any other in recent memory, the Cleveland Indians' finally have some answers when it comes to their Opening Day roster.
The calendar necessitated them.
On Wednesday -- one day before the team's season opener at the Minnesota Twins -- the Indians announced their 25-man roster for Opening Day. Although their weren't many surprises -- especially given the recent injuries suffered by Francisco Lindor and Jason Kipnis -- perhaps the most notable news of the Indians' roster release is that infielder/designated hitter Hanley Ramirez has made the team.
A 3-time All-Star, Ramirez signed a minor league contract with Cleveland toward the start of Spring Training. The 35-year-old has not played in a Major League game since being released by the Boston Red Sox on May 25, 2018.
As recently as last week, Ramirez's spot on the Indians' roster -- and Major League career -- seemed to be in question. Ramirez, however, finished an initially shaky Spring Training with a strong showing down the stretch and could provide some pop in the middle of a Cleveland lineup currently lacking Lindor, who hit 38 home runs a season ago.
“The hope is the middle-of-the-order-type bat,” Indians manager Terry Francona said of Ramirez earlier this spring. “We need to let him settle in first. He played a little winter ball. He said he’s been hitting and stuff, but he’s mid-30s. He hasn’t played a lot, so we need to let him get his legs under him, get some repetition."
Per Zack Meisel of The Athletic, the Indians' Opening Day roster will be as follows:
Starting pitchers
- Corey Kluber
- Trevor Bauer
- Carlos Carrasco
- Mike Clevinger
- Shane Bieber
Relief pitchers
- Brad Hand
- Adam Cimber
- Neil Ramirez
- Tyler Olson
- Oliver Perez
- Dan Otero
- Jon Edwards
Outfielders
- Jake Bauers
- Leonys Martin
- Greg Allen
- Tyler Naquin
- Jordan Luplow
Infielders
- Jose Ramirez
- Hanley Ramirez
- Carlos Santana
- Max Moroff
- Eric Stamets
- Brad Miller
Catchers
- Roberto Perez
- Kevin Plawecki
The Indians will kick off the 2019 season on Thursday when they face the Minnesota Twins at 4:10 p.m. ET.