GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- While so much focus has been on the position battles at first base and shortstop, Yu Chang reminded everyone on Monday that the utility race is just as tight.
In the Tribe’s 10-0 victory over the Mariners at Goodyear Ballpark, Chang launched his third home run of the spring deep over the visiting bullpen in left-center field.
“I’m trying to do everything, keep everything routine every day [and] do it accurately,” Chang said through an interpreter. “And when hitting, I just keep the timing pretty good and follow the ball, and when I get the rhythm of the pitcher, I can hit it well.”
Chang had as hot of a Summer Camp as he could’ve asked for last July before the 2020 season. He was in such a groove at the plate that the Indians had no choice but to put him on the Opening Day roster. But if it’s possible, Chang said he feels even better this spring.
“I did some adjustment on my swing during the offseason,” Chang said, “so I feel much better than Spring Training 2 last year.”
Chang said he spent the entire offseason at home in Taiwan with his newborn son, while working with a local high school hitting coach to get ready for the season. He’d send videos to his hitting coach in Los Angeles to reach the comfort level that he feels he’s at now.
Although he made the Opening Day roster, Chang played in just 10 games for the Tribe last year. With José Ramírez at third base, Cesar Hernandez at second and a tight battle between Amed Rosario and Andrés Giménez at shortstop, Chang is in the thick of the fight for the Indians’ utility role with Mike Freeman. And he’s hoping his adjustments can prove that he can stay at the big league level.
“[Chang has] taken some pretty healthy swings at a lot of pitches right now, and that’s a good way to have success,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “There was a number of pitches where he just fouled back, and you could tell he feels good about himself. And shoot, we don’t want to run away from being excited about him. We think this kid’s got some tools to be a good player.”
Giménez hits inside-the-park home run
Andrés Giménez has made quite the first impression on his new team in just three short weeks of Spring Training. He added another big hit to his highlight reel Monday. His second homer of the spring caused him to pant a little harder than the first, as he raced around the bases to record a three-run inside-the-parker.
“When the scouts give you a picture of a guy, I think they actually did a really good job,” Francona said. “Like, if he was 0-for-20 right now, I don't know that we'd think, 'Man, wish we wouldn't have traded for him.' It's nice to see what he can do. It doesn't look like it's a mirage. He's a young kid that seems to use the whole field, he can put the bat on the ball and make all the routine plays. That's a pretty big compliment for a young kid.”
Reyes and Ramírez to rejoin Tribe
The Indians have been without Franmil Reyes and Ramírez since Saturday after the two self-reported that they broke COVID-19 protocols. But the team was relieved to learn on Monday that their absence would be limited to just three days. After they both received negative COVID-19 test results, they were granted permission to rejoin the club for workouts on Tuesday morning.
Heads up
In the Indians’ 9-4 loss to the A’s on Sunday, left fielder Ben Gamel took a line drive off his head during the third inning. Francona said the ball bounced off Gamel’s glove and hit him straight in the forehead. Gamel never budged and didn’t report any symptoms later in the day. He arrived at camp Monday morning to find out he was named the MVP of the game.
“We usually do it when we win,” Francona said. “But I told the guys, I've never seen a guy sacrifice their body and stick their head in front of a line drive like that before, so we made him the MVP. I think everybody got a kick out of it, including him. He took it really well.”
B-game scheduled for Tuesday
Since the majority of the Indians’ Cactus League games have been fewer than nine innings so far this spring, the team is trying to be creative to see all of its pitchers. So the Tribe scheduled its second B-game against the Reds for Tuesday. This time, it’ll be a four-inning exhibition matchup with Carlos Vargas, Nick Wittgren, Emmanuel Clase and possibly another hurler scheduled to pitch.