The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Strikeout-prone Zimmer demoted to Columbus
The Indians send strikeout troubled Bradley Zimmer to the minors to work on his swing and keep Greg Allen. Lonnie Chisenhall is also activated to play.
Bradley Zimmer, the top prospect in the Indians’ farm system 13 months ago, is back in the minor leagues.
The Indians demoted Zimmer to Triple-A Columbus on June 5 to clear a roster spot for outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall, who had been on the disabled list with a calf injury since April 8.
The more Zimmer played since being called up from Columbus in May 2017, the easier it became for opposing pitchers to find a hole in his swing.
Zimmer hit .285 and struck out 43 times in 151 at-bats in the first half of 2017. He batted 148 times in
the second half of the season and hit an anemic .196 while striking out 56 times.
The black hole in the swing of the 6-foot-5 center fielder got even bigger
in 2018. He has batted 106 times in 34 games. He has 24 hits and nearly twice as many strikeouts — 44. The strikeouts became too big a liability, despite Zimmer being a superb defensive player.
Manager Terry Francona and Indians president Chris Antonetti delivered the news to Zimmer before the Indians hosted the Milwaukee Brewers in the first of a two-game series at Progressive Field.
“Offensively, it’s been a struggle for him, especially the strikeouts,” Francona said. “We wanted to talk to him together.
“A lot of guys have gone to AAA and worked on their game and then came back. We fully believe that will happen with Zim. We want that. He’s our best center fielder.”
Greg Allen made the decision to send down Zimmer easier for Antonetti and Francona. Allen was called up from Columbus on May 6, one day after Zimmer was injured crashing into the center field wall in Yankee Stadium chasing down a fly ball.
Allen entered the game June 5 hitting .263 with 20 hits in 76 at-bats. He has struck out 22 times. Allen has only three RBI, but he covers center field well.
“When a guy plays like (Allen) has, it allows you to do something that maybe you weren’t sure you could,” Francona said. “(Zimmer) understood. He said he knows he needs to make adjustments.
“Trying to make some of the adjustments at the major league level can be hard. If you’re striking out 40 percent of the time, you better really be doing some damage when you hit the ball.”
Zimmer is hitting only .226 with two home runs and nine RBI.
The good news for the Indians is Zimmer should get all the time he needs repairing his swing.
Five days ago four outfielders — Zimmer, Chisenhall, Brandon Guyer (neck) and Tyler Naquin (hamstring) — were on the disabled list.
Zimmer was activated on May 3. He played in two games after being activated, got two hits and struck out five times in eight at-bats.
Chisenhall was activated on June 5 and started in right field against the Brewers. Francona said Guyer “is doing fine.” The plan is to activate Guyer June 8.
Naquin also is getting close to returning. He will play some center field when he returns to the active roster, Francona said.