The Indians have optioned outfielder Ben Gamel to Triple-A. Cleveland signed Gamel in early February to be a potential cog in their attempts to piece together replacement-level play in centerfield, but the 29-year-old has struggled at the dish so far this season. Through 11 games, Gamel has hit just .071/.235/.143 across a minimal 17 plate appearances. He has largely served as a late-game replacement in center to starter Amed Rosario.
Without Gamel, the Indians are down to a three-man bench. Jordan Luplow is the only backup in center to Rosario, who himself is learning to play the position for the first time this season. Luplow has limited experience in center, though he has yet to appear there this season.
Southpaw Sam Hentges has been recalled from Cleveland’s alternate site to take Gamel’s roster spot, per MLB.com’s Mandy Bell (via Twitter). The slender 6’6″ lefty will make his Major League debut the first time he gets into a game. When he last saw competitive game action, Hentges tossed 128 2/3 innings in Double-A with a 5.11 ERA. He is the Indians 13th-ranked prospect via Fangraphs, while Baseball America has him as the 23rd-ranked prospect in Cleveland’s system.
I can’t confirm this right now, but I think they have Hentges at 6’8 these days.
We may not be able to hit a lick right now, but we sure have a qualified starting staff and a bullpen with some serious firepower. Hentges was hitting 99 in spring training.
That’s tough for Gamel. He’s a pretty clutch hitter, but yeah, he went through stretches like this with the Crew. Always seemed to come up with the important hit somehow with risp.
the Brewers roster was always bad enough to stay on
Finally. Hopefully when they need to bring an outfielder back up, it’s Daniel Johnson. But it’ll probably be Mercado.
They needs right handed bats, so my bet is they bring up Harold Ramirez.
To play CF? I’m doubting that. Harold is barely plays a decent RF as it is.
They have Amed and Luplow for center. Harold would be the right handed bat against left-handers for Naylor, and occasionally Eddie Rosario.
Mercado also bats RH, can play multiple OF positions, and has way better defensive abilities than Harold and Luplow.
Lupliw has played in center this year. Am I misreading this?
that’s what they meant. he’s learning to play this year after not having been a CF before
Ok I read he has yet to play there this season and knew he had. Thanks
Luplow
The Indians love Hentges and Francona has raved about him in the past. They still seem interested in him potentially being a starter long-term which I don’t necessarily see, but I think he could be a NASTY late-inning arm instead.
He had some injury problems in the low minors and he was a high school pick out of Minnesota, so he’s still a little raw as a starter despite his age…but he’s huge and he has really good stuff (plus he’s a lefty that throws in the mid to high 90s). Put him back there with Clase and Karinchak and watch him dominate.