Lost and found: Zimmer makes surprise comeback with Indians

Seemingly lost, somewhat forgotten, Brley Zimmer has found his way back to Cleveland Indians.

Sidelined by injuries for most of past two seasons, Zimmer has put himself in position to t only make Cleveland's roster but also be a part of manr Terry Francona's regular lineup.

27-year-old started in left field in Monday night's exhibition against Pittsburgh Pirates, and it's t much of a reach to think he might be re again Friday when Indians open this COVID-19-delayed 2020 season against Kansas City Royals.

It's an impressive turnaround for physically gifted Zimmer, who probably would be at Triple-A Columbus if t for this shortened season and a few or scenarios that have gone his way.

Zimmer is batting .556 (10 of 18) with four homers and seven RBIs in eight intrasqu games. On Monday, he went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI in Indians' 11-7 win.

Francona said seeing Zimmer thrive in his comeback has been beyond what he or Indians could have expected.

“We’ve been hoping” he said. “We’ve said all along we love what’s in re. He can impact game just about anywhere. We were concerned about his amount of at-bats. He hasn’t played really a lot in two years. That still worries us some. But I don’t kw how else to fix that this year. We’re going off what we’re going off of.”

Zimmer's chance of emerging from a crowded outfield mix has been helped by Deli DeShields being slowed after contracting coronavirus and Jordan Luplow's back issue.

A first-round draft pick in 2014, Zimmer broke in with Indians in 2017 and played 101 games. 6-foot-5, 220-pounder was quickly nicknamed “Machine” by his teammates, who were awed by his speed on bases and in outfield gaps.

But his bright future hit a serious nag in 2018, when a torn labrum in his right shoulder required surgery that would sideline Zimmer for nearly a year.

He spent most of last season in Arizona rehabbing before being called up for nine games in September. When camp opened this past February, Zimmer was considered a long shot, at best, to make Cleveland's opening-day roster mainly because team wanted to ease him back by getting him more playing time in mirs.

pandemic changed those plans, and Zimmer's performance so far this summer has forced Indians to re-think ir outfield alignment.

“I’m t going to lie,” Zimmer said after hitting two home runs off Mike Clevinger in a recent scrimm. “I’m feeling really good. This is honestly what I expected. Probably coming in here a lot of people, honestly, haven’t really looked at me as an option. I’ve probably been overlooked.

“But in my mind, through quarantine and all that giving me more time to get rey to prove I’m here for a reason. At this point, I’m just playing. I’m just happy to be playing baseball again.”

Zimmer rically changed his batting stance, and results have been eye-popping. Inste of being hunched over, he's standing taller in batter's box, allowing Zimmer's hands to get through strike zone more quickly.

Clevinger has always been impressed by Zimmer's imposing physique, and w he's got a swing to match it.

“Zim looks like an Avatar. He is a Avatar,” Clevinger said, referring to fictional alien-like film creature. ” way he changed his stance, you can’t just beat him up and in like you used to. We used to talk about it in Triple-A. You used to be able to beat him all day inside with high heaters in strike zone because he couldn’t get to it because of how long he is.

"By bringing his arms in and getting to his legs, because he’s all legs, he’s going to be a dangerous, dangerous player with that speed.”

Francona agreed with Clevinger's scouting report.

“I didn’t even kw Clev watched him hit. I’m gl,” he said. “Zim has changed his stance and although it looks a little urthodox with his hands, he’s able to get himself in a position where he can use his tools. That’s best way I can put it. He’s getting himself in a launch position, or a rey position really well. So, he’s able to use tools that are given to him, rar than m being inhibitors.”

Im credits: AP