Indians call up Holt from Triple-A Columbus
CLEVELAND -- The Indians recalled outfielder Tyler Holt from Triple-A Columbus prior to Wednesday's 12-1 win against the Royals.
Holt, who batted ninth and went 1-for-5 with a single and a run scored in his season debut, replaced David Murphy on the 25-man roster, after the veteran left fielder was traded to the Los Angeles Angels prior to Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Royals.
The 26-year-old right-hander made his Major League debut with the club last season and appeared in 36 games, batting .268/.307/.296 with two home runs in 76 plate appearances. He logged time at all three outfield positions. Holt owns a .286/.369/.348 line through 320 plate appearances in Triple-A this year.
"He brings a ton of energy, and he's done a real good job at Triple-A," Indians manager Terry Francona said.
Francona noted that the roster could still change with Friday's Trade Deadline looming.
"Once we get through that, whether something happens or doesn't, then we can kind of know exactly who's here," Francona said. "Nothing may happen, but something could, and today was just a fact where we wanted to let Michael Brantley DH because it's a noon game and Holt will play a good left field with some energy. We'll see where it fits in."
With Holt, a natural center fielder, on the roster and Murphy, a natural left fielder, off of it, the move could indicate a Holt/Michael Bourn platoon in center field with Brantley spending more time in his typical home in left. Bourn has been sitting against most lefties this season with Brantley sliding over to center.
"That's a possibility," Francona said. "That's one of the things. I know Brantley likes going over [to center], which was probably my concern early, was disrupting him, but I think he enjoys it. But one of the things you really want to do when things aren't going your way as much as you want them to as an organization, we really need to find out things. It's not at the expense of winning, but it's answering questions about players, and if you're going to have a tough time, you want to get something out of it."
Worth noting
• Nick Swisher was with the club in Cleveland on Wednesday as he works his way back from left knee inflammation. He'll join Class A Lake County on Thursday and progress to Triple-A over the weekend. The end of his rehab assignment will coincide with the team returning to Cleveland to face the Twins on Aug. 7.
• Outfielder Ryan Raburn has been dealing with gastritis over the last couple weeks. He was pulled from Sunday's game after not feeling well and was unavailable Monday. The right-hander received an endoscopy and is reportedly feeling much better.
• The Indians announced following the conclusion of Wednesday's win that they had acquired left-handed pitcher Jayson Aquino from the Pirates for cash considerations.