Perez, Lindor excited, ready for Indians’ games in Puerto Rico

The Indians and Minnesota Twins have known since June of last year they would meet for a two-game series in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and now that time is at hand.

The series at Hiram Bithom Stadium is set for April 17 and 18, sandwiched between off days on April 16 and 19 for both teams.

It might be difficult for anyone born and raised in the United States to appreciate how emotional the trip back home is going to be for Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor, catcher Roberto Perez and first base coach Sandy Alomar, Jr., but they can’t wait for this series.

Manager Terry Francona wants all his players to enjoy the experience while remembering that these games count. The Indians and Twins are vying for first place in the A.L. Central early in the season.

“You’ve got to remember that they’re not exhibition games, because sometimes you get (caught up) in that atmosphere,” Francona said. “But, I think it’s good for baseball, and I think our guys will enjoy it.”

The time is especially important to Perez. He did not grow up with the advantages of Lindor, whose family moved to Florida when Lindor was 12. Perez grew up in a single-parent home in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

This doesn’t mean Lindor has forgotten his roots, but the series with the Twins is a chance for Perez’ mother to make the 2½hour journey to San Juan to watch her son play.

“All that Puerto Rico has gone through the last eight or nine months (from hurricanes), it’s an honor, to represent not only the Cleveland Indians, but the island,” Perez said in the Indians clubhouse April 13. “This is like the World Series. You don’t know when you’re going to go back and play there.

“I don’t think you can ever forget where you came from. I don’t want kids to go through what I went through as a kid. That’s the message I want to relate. My mom (Lilliam) had to make a lot of sacrifices. That’s why I’m proud of her. When something was missing at home, she went out and got it. She did a great job.”

Lindor plans to host a clinic on April 16 for 250 Puerto Rican youngsters at his elementary school in Gurabo, P.R.

“I’ve been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time and I couldn’t be more excited,” Lindor said. “I have said many times that playing in Puerto Rico is a dream come true. I can’t wait to take the field in front of the fans in my homeland. I’m sure it is going to be a moment that I’ll never forget.”

• The Indians are trying to find a spot for Francisco Mejia on the major-league roster someday, and since they are content with Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez as catchers, Mejia’s natural position, they are trying to convert him into a left fielder. He has started four games as a catcher and two in the outfield with the Columbus Clippers. The former Lake County Captain was the DH on April 13.

“It’s a work in progress, which we knew,” Francona said. “I don’t know that you can go from being a catcher to being a Gold Glove outfielder. But, as long as he’s willing to try it and put the work in, which he is, it just opens up maybe more avenues for him to get to the major leagues.

“He has a tremendous arm. That’s not going to be an issue anywhere. Balls off the bat, you can take all the drills you want — and he does — but balls off the bat are probably the hardest thing. Your first step. Making sure you’re going in the right direction. Not coming straight up. Repetition will be the best thing for him.”

Mejia is hitting .194 with six hits in 31 at-bats. 2020 second-round draft pick belonging to Miami and the draft rights to Dimitrios Agravanis to the Kings. They traded forward Jae Crowder, guard Derrick Rose and the right to swap second round picks in 2024 to Utah in the complicated deal.

Hill would have been in offseason mode if he had still been with the Kings. Now he will be playing for two more months if the Cavs make it to the Finals again. Hill will be the starting point guard on April 15 when the Cavaliers host the Indiana Pacers in their playoff opener.

“I love this time of year,” Hill, who played five seasons with the Pacers from 2011-12 through 2015-16, said after a recent practice. “I feel like that’s when I play my best ball. It’s all the marbles on the line and everyone is watching you and your guys as one of 16 teams that are in it and fighting for one common goal and that’s to win a championship.”

Hill will be part of the defensive rotation coach Tyronn Lue plans to use on Pacers star Victor Oladipo. Hill, 31, and Oladipo, 25, were never teammates in the NBA, but they played together before Oladipo turned pro.

“I remember playing with him in our little summer league back in an Indiana Pro-Am game and he was my teammate when he was an Indiana Hoosier so I’m very happy with the success he’s having this year. I firmly believe he should be Most Improved Player this year. What he does, his numbers speak for themselves. We have our hands full, but I think we are well capable of doing a great job defensively and try to figure it all out.” on SEC football games.

Don’t expect Couch to be as critical as Kosar was at times, but he will know the Browns players better than Wilcots did. Wilcots was lazy; I expect Couch to spend time on the sidelines during training camp getting to know the players.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been around, but the fans have been incredibly welcoming to me since the announcement and those kinds of things,” Couch told Clevelandbrowns.com.” You just never know, when you haven’t been here in a while, you’re just like, ‘I don’t know if they’re going to accept me when I come back,’ but it’s been overwhelmingly good. It’s been a good feeling. I’m super excited to be here.

“I tell my friends all the time — and they’re like, ‘How are you going to be a Browns fan for how your career ended there?’ ‘They’re a bad team’ and this and that.

“I’m like, ‘I will always be a Browns fan forever.’”

Kosar, who played from the Browns from 1985 to 1993, is a Browns fan, but his critique was refreshing. Couch might take time to learn he can be critical and still be appreciated.

Couch played four years with the Browns. He was 22-37 and remains the team’s winningest quarterback of the expansion era.

Wilcots isn’t the only one being replaced. Jay Crawford, with an ESPN background, is replacing Mike Patrick as the play-by-play announcer. That has to be an upgrade.