TODAY: Mercado’s promotion has been announced. Naquin will indeed hit the IL with calf tightness.
YESTERDAY: The Indians are calling upon a top minor-league performer, per MLB.com’s Mandy Bell (via Twitter). Young outfielder Oscar Mercado is heading up to the MLB roster, with Tyler Naquin likely headed to the 10-day injured list.
Mercado, a former second-round pick who was picked up in a trade last summer from the Cardinals, has been on a tear for most of the season at Triple-A. He’s slashing .294/.396/.496 over 140 plate appearances, with four home runs and 14 stolen bases in 17 attempts.
The Cleveland organization is badly in need of a boost after watching two of its best players go down to injury and spotting the Twins four games in the AL Central. To this point of the season, just one of the team’s outfielders (Jordan Luplow) has managed to produce offensively at better than an 87 wRC+ rate.
Nice
It’s about damn time. Let’s go big O! Make us proud!
You should watch the series “Big O” brought back memories lol
It’s about damn time! Let’s go big O! Make us proud!
Double Ditto!
Good for Mercado, while I wish the cardinals would’ve found a way to make him fit I’m glad to see he is getting opportunities elsewhere.
Jhon Torres also looks like a good return if he actually ever plays.
Torres was definitely a big loss, and he could be a special hitter if he keeps developing. To get much more immediate help at a position of need, it was worth giving up someone so far away and risky, but the Cardinals could have gotten a stud.
It’s about time! He’s average or better pretty much across the board, and with as bad as their outfield has been, he’s a much needed addition.
It’s too early to look ahead, but hopefully they’ll keep him up even after Naquin comes back. I think Luplow-Martin-Mercado (with Bauers splitting between first and DH and CarGo being a bench bat that starts a few times a week) is at least passable; the defense alone would be solid.
I’m hoping Mercado plays in CF. Martin should switch to corner OF.
CarGo can go-go away for all I care.
Finally. For once I hope this doesn’t result in a flameout, or an injury ala Zimmer.
Unfortunately, Naquin is another Chisenhall… productive when healthy but, that’s hardly ever…Mercado deserves this opportunity & even though I’m not much of a Luplow fan, he’s also deserves an opportunity based on his recent performance… Go Tribe!!
This is the Indians first win now move since last years trade deadline.
the Brad hand deal? I see that as a win now and future talent acquisition deal. they needed both those arms bc they knew they werent getting Miller and Allen back. good moves IMO both are both FAs tail spinning down
Ya I agree.
Everybody wants him to come up and replace the guys like Bauer, Naquin and Luplow, but those guys would be raking in Columbus and struggling in Cleveland so to expect Mercado to put up his AAA numbers here would be quite a stretch. I think the expectations are a bit optimistic, so I hope he’s able to produce.
Does Jose Ramirez have any minor league options remaining?
Yes, 1.
Mercado has a 132 WRC+ with a .373 babip which is concerning, as is his 22.9% strikeout rate. I’m cautiously optimistic on Mercado.
22.9% K rate would be good compared to what others are putting forth these days.
His walk rate will likely decrease to around 9% and also his strikeout rate should tick down to 21%. But his babip going down to 305-310 will be a problem for him.
A 22.9% strikeout rate isn’t really much anymore; it might actually be below the league average, and if not then it’s close.
His BABIP is definitely high, but his profile is one that I could see more easily sustaining something that high. He has great speed and pretty decent bat-to-ball skills.
And of course Francona puts him in LF, instead of his natural position of CF.
Dumb.
Did he also play infield in minors?
Started out at SS.