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Cleveland Indians' young core emerging during midseason surge

Having amassed a 15-6 record in the month of June, the Cleveland Indians have received significant contributions from some of the youngest members of their roster.
Credit: AP
Cleveland Indians' Bobby Bradley looks toward the dugout after hitting a one-run double in the second inning in a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Sunday, June 23, 2019, in Cleveland. Jose Ramirez scored on the play. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

CLEVELAND -- As the Cleveland Indians' 2018 season came to an end, a group of veterans gathered in the corner of the Progressive Field home clubhouse.

There stood Michael Brantley, Jason Kipnis, Josh Tomlin, Yan Gomes and Cody Allen -- a quintet of the team's core from which only Kipnis would return for the following season.

It was no secret that the Houston Astros' sweep of the Indians in the American League Divisional Series last fall marked the end of an era of sorts of Cleveland, as a trimming of the team's payroll would require it to part ways with Brantley, Gomes, Allen, Andrew Miller and Edwin Encarnacion in the months to come. But even as the Indians -- unsuccessfully -- dangled Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer in trade talks, their front-runner status in the A.L. Central seemed cemented.

Through the first two months of the 2019 season, however, the Indians' attempt to "thread the needle" proved more prickly than originally anticipated.

Stumbling to a 29-30 start, Cleveland entered June 10.5 games back of the Minnesota Twins in the division standings. The excuses and explanations for the Indians' sluggish start were plentiful, with Francisco Lindor, Mike Clevinger, Kluber and Kipnis each missing extended time with injuries, while Jose Ramirez's second-half slump from a season ago continued into -- and through -- the spring.

It, of course, didn't help matters that the young players Cleveland was counting on to help replace the production of its departed veterans failed to do just that. Entering June, Jake Bauers was hitting just .217 with a meager .341 slugging percentage, as the team's work-in-progress outfield failed to find its footing.

Yet for all that went wrong through the first two months of the season, the Indians enter the final week of June just 7.5 games back of the Twins, with a favorable schedule still ahead. What's more is that a new young core has begun to emerge for Cleveland, which enters Tuesday night's matchup vs. the Kansas City Royals having won 15 of its 21 games this month.

That core includes:

Oscar Mercado

One of the Indians' most pleasant surprises of 2019, Oscar Mercado parlayed a big Spring Training showing into an early-season call-up. Since making his Major League debut on May 14, the 24-year-old outfielder has lived up to the hype, posting a .305/.359/.473 slash line in 34 games, amassing 4 home runs, 15 RBIs and 6 stolen bases.

One of just four players on Cleveland's roster to currently possess a WAR (wins above replacement) over 1, Mercado's importance to the Indians' will only increase as the season wears on. Having already established himself as the No. 2 hitter in the team's lineup, Mercado figures to take over as its everyday centerfielder following Leonys Martin's release over the weekend.

Credit: AP
Cleveland Indians' Oscar Mercado watches his ball after hitting an RBI-single in the third inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, June 22, 2019, in Cleveland. Mike Freeman scored on the play. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Jefry Rodriguez

While the Indians entered 2019 with questions aplenty regarding their lineup, their pitching rotation appeared to be firmly established as one of baseball's best. That changed less than two weeks into the season though, when Clevinger left his second start of the year with an upper back strain that would ultimately land him on the 60-day I.L.

Fortunately for the Indians, Clevinger's replacement would emerge as an unlikely mainstay of the team's rotation. Acquired by Cleveland in the November trade that sent Yan Gomes to the Washington Nationals, right-hander Jefry Rodriguez has proven to be more than just a promising power arm.

After initially bouncing back and forth between Cleveland and Triple-A Columbus as necessary, the 25-year-old Rodriguez has been a regular in the Indians' rotation since late-April. While his official 1-5 record leaves something to be desired, it's worth noting the Indians won his two starts that didn't result in a decision -- and that he received one run or less of support in each of his five losses.

Having pitched the fourth-most innings on the team (43.2), the 6-foot-6 Rodriguez has amassed a 4.74 ERA and 32 strikeouts in eight starts. Due to a strained shoulder that landed him on the 10-day I.L. Rodriguez has been sidelined since June 1 but should find himself back in the big leagues once back at full strength.

Zach Plesac

Like Rodriguez, the Indians didn't figure to be counting on Zach Plesac this early in the season -- or really at all. After all, the 24-year-old began the season in Double-A Akron.

Clevinger's injury, however, coupled with Kluber's injury and Adam Plutko's early unavailability put Cleveland's pitching depth to the test. And when the team found itself in need of a spot start vs. the Boston Red Sox last month, the right-hander was the man for the job.

Following his rapid rise through the minors, Plesac's hot start continued at Fenway Park, where he surrendered just 4 hits and 1 run while pitching 5.1 innings in what was ultimately a 7-5 Indians' win. In the time since, the Ball State product has established himself as one of Cleveland's most reliable starters, amassing a 3-2 record, 2.33 ERA and 28 strikeouts in six starts.

With Kluber still sidelined and Clevinger once again on the I.L., Plesac won't have to worry about making the trip down I-71 anytime soon. And with Trevor Bauer having already been floated in trade rumors, Cleveland could soon have a full-time spot open in its five-man rotation, which Plesac appears to have already established himself as the top candidate for.

Credit: Tony Dejak
Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Zach Plesac delivers in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Friday, June 7, 2019.

Bobby Bradley

While Plesac was the most impressive pitcher in the Indians' minor league system early in the season, the title of best hitter belonged to first baseman Bobby Bradley. In 67 games in Triple-A Columbus, the 23-year-old hit for a .292 batting average with 17 doubles and 55 RBIs, leading the International League in both home runs (24) and slugging percentage (.638).

With nine of his home runs coming in the month of June alone, the left-hander's call-up became a matter of not "if" but "when?"

As it turns out, "when" was Sunday -- a day after the Indians' designated Martin for assignment, opening up both a spot on the team's roster and in its lineup. It didn't take long for Bradley to make an impact either, as he hit a double in his big league debut -- an 8-3 Cleveland victory to complete a three-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers.

In the immediate future, Bradley figures to platoon with Carlos Santana at first base and designated hitter, providing another left-handed power bat in the middle of the Indians' lineup. And if all goes well, he won't be returning to Columbus anytime soon -- or at all -- as a new wave of cornerstones establish themselves in the Cleveland clubhouse.

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