CLEVELAND -- The Indians finally have a reliable everyday outfielder in center fielder Myles Straw. The club hasn’t had a presence like that since Michael Brantley was in Cleveland. Now, Bradley Zimmer is left with the rest of the remaining outfielders to fight for time in either of the corner spots moving forward.

Zimmer had a strong start to the second half of the season, owning a .325 average with an .882 OPS through the end of July. But he quickly cooled off when the calendar flipped to August, as he moved from center to right field after the Straw acquisition.

However, the 28-year-old showed he could right the ship and continue to be a force in the lineup with a two-hit performance, including the go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh, in Cleveland’s 7-5 victory over Detroit on Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field.

“Yeah there's been some little things, just trying to stay short to the ball is kind of the main theme,” Zimmer said, of the adjustments he’s made to his swing since the All-Star break. “Overall, I think it's just been comfortability and relaxation, and having fun out there.”

Zimmer was moved up to the No. 2 slot in the lineup for the first time this season, taking shortstop Amed Rosario’s spot on his day off. And after warming up with a double off the wall in the fifth, Zimmer became the hero of the rubber match by launching a Statcast-projected 413-foot blast -- his third of the year.

At times this season, Zimmer’s performances have sparked flashbacks to the potential he showed in his rookie season in 2017. But that excitement surrounding his future was put on hold when he was limited to 34 games in ‘18 and nine contests in ‘19 due to injuries.

“Yeah that's how baseball works,” Zimmer said. “It's tough to get into a rhythm when you're not really playing. So being able to consistently play and playing at the highest level is huge.”

Zimmer got a glimpse of the big leagues again in ‘20 after working his way back through Triple-A, and now, he’s starting to show that he has the potential to get back into his 2017 form. His exceptional speed is still there (averaging 29.2 feet per second on the year, which is just under the elite mark of 30.0), his defense has been decent and his bat has gone through flashes of catching fire like Sunday.

Zimmer’s 103.2 mph homer is an example of one of his most glaring improvements over the last few years. In his rookie season, he owned a 39.9 hard-hit percentage, according to Statcast. After that dipped to 16.7% in ‘20, he’s worked his way back up to 37.5% this season, entering the series finale. And all three of his long balls this season have given his team a lead, as he’s batting .350 (14-for-40) when the game is tied this season.

“He’s been climbing since he’s been here,” Indians acting manager DeMarlo Hale said, “and the adjustments I’m sure he continues to make with the hitting department, he’s got the skill set to impact the game, whether it’s an extra-base hit potential, he’s got enough pop to go yard, and then his speed plays a factor as well. So, just looking forward to him to continue to grow and get better and develop his craft and help us win ballgames.”

Not only is Zimmer currently competing with Harold Ramirez and Oscar Mercado for playing time, he’ll be looking to put together a convincing case as to why he deserves a regular role heading into next season.

Zimmer is set to enter his first arbitration year this offseason and will not only be compared to Mercado and Ramirez to see who should earn 40-man roster spots, but also Daniel Johnson, Josh Naylor and Cleveland’s No. 4 prospect George Valera, who will be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft.

“Every day is a new opportunity and I never take that for granted,” Zimmer said. “I'm really grateful to be here and I am looking forward to continuing to contribute for this team.”