Indian swinging after rocky ‘17
GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Jason Kipnis was warned the day would come when his body betrayed him.
Early in his major league career, veterans warned Kipnis the bruises would take longer to heal and those late nights would be harder to shake in the early mornings. That time has arrived. “When you’re 24, the excitement, the way your body feels, you can roll out of bed with a Red Bull and feel great,” said Cleveland’s steady second baseman. “Now, I need a Red Bull to get out of bed.”
But following an injury-riddled 2017 season, Kipnis has found another gear under the warm Arizona sun.
An All-Star in
2013 and 2015,
Kipnis homered in each of his first six exhibition games, evidence the 30-year-old may be primed to produce more this season.
“I’m not trying to hit home runs,” Kipnis said. “If I had my choice, I’d save them for the regular season but you don’t get to do that.”
Kipnis spent all last year battling injuries, which limited him to 90 games. He arrived at camp with a sore right shoulder, and the lingering inflammation landed him on the disabled list before opening day.
He made two other extended trips to the DL with right hamstring problems, and if his medical issues weren’t troubling enough, the Indians moved him from the infield to the outfield and he wound up making 11 starts in centre.
But he’s moved on, and so far Kipnis has been Cleveland’s best camper. “Yeah, I’m MVP, clearly,” he joked.