The Indians announced that outfielder Bradley Zimmer has been activated from the 60-day injured list. He was optioned down to Triple-A, where had been playing on a rehab assignment.
To create a 40-man roster opening, the Cleveland organization designated righty Jordan Stephens for assignment. He’ll have to be exposed to waivers since trades are not permissible at this stage of the season.
A former top prospect, the 26-year-old Zimmer has missed the entire season owing to shoulder surgery. He’s also looking to bounce back from a brutal 2018 season at the plate. The athletic outfielder stumbled to a .226/.281/.330 slash in 114 MLB plate appearances in what turned out to be a lost campaign.
It’s far too early to draw any conclusions, but it’s promising to see Zimmer hitting well in his initial action in the upper minors. He has a .333/.412/.600 batting line with a pair of long balls in a dozen rehab contests. Whether that’ll carry over to the bigs — and when he’ll get a chance to test himself — remains to be seen.
As for Stephens, who’s nearing his 27th birthday, there have been some ups and downs this year. He was bludgeoned at Triple-A to open the year and ended up being claimed by the Indians from the White Sox. After a bounceback stretch at the Double-A level, Stephens again ran into the International League buzzsaw. All told, he has allowed 17 home runs and 66 earned runs in just 66 1/3 innings at the highest level of the minors this season.
Why would they activate him today and then option him down to AAA? Couldn’t they have activated him in a few hours when the rosters expand and save that option by keeping him on the expanded roster? If that was permissible I find this a terrible waste of an option.
And now Naquin gets carted off the field making a Zimmer type play, they’ll need outfield help ASAP.
I assume they want him to get more at bats, don’t know why they didn’t keep him on the injured list for that….unless his 30 day clock was running out.
You have to spend minimum 10 days in the minors for the option to be burned so I don’t think they burn one here
He’ll be there 10 days as they want him to get more ABs, I just think there had to be some other way to not burn an option year.
The minor league regular season ends with games on Monday 9/2.
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I do not believe the minor league post season counts as days towards options being burned…
Pitchers get 30 days for rehab assignments. Position players only get 20 days for rehab assignments..
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I think Bauer comes up first, but I am hoping to see Zimmer and Mercado in the same outfield this year….should be able to cover by themselves
Don’t forget Luplow.. He has been playing rehab games for the past week or so.. He might be an option for activation/ recall before Zimmer or Bauer..
I’m hoping to see Daniel Johnson get the call up.