The Cleveland Indians have promoted their top prospect, and top 20 Major League Baseball prospect, Bradley Zimmer, to the majors.
This is the second ‘elite’ prospect to get a call up this season, but likely won’t be the last.
Zimmer’s slash line at Columbus in 2017: AVG (.294) OBP (.371) SLG (.532) OPS (.902)
Zimmer is a left-handed hitting outfielder, drafted in the first round out of University of San Francisco in 2014. A five-tool talent, Zimmer has stolen nine bases thus far in 2017 in 12 chances, walked 14 times in 33 games and has 18 extra base hits this season in 126 at bats. Impressive numbers to be sure.
The one place where Zimmer needs to work on and could be an issue is he can strike out more often then you’d prefer. This has been a fact ever since joining the Indians organization, striking out 43 times this season in 33 games. Bradley will need to work on making contact, if even to foul balls off to stay alive, work counts, he can be highly successful.
Zimmer may step in to play center field, allowing Michael Brantley to stay in left and Lonnie Chisenhall to move to right field. Chisenhall may also get some rest as he struggles after a solid rookie campaign as the Indians work to get his struggles figured out. Abraham Almonte was placed on the 10-day DL to make room for Zimmer.
Next: MLB 2017: One X-factor for each team
Interesting note, Bradley is the brother of Royals pitching prospect Kyle Zimmer, also drafted out of the University of San Fransisco. Kyle was drafted fifth-overall in the 2012 draft but his career thus far has been severely limited by injuries.