Tribe brings up Goody, sends down Armstrong

In need of a fresh pitcher, the Indians sent Shawn Armstrong to Columbus and brought up reliever Nick Goody. Goody was 0-0 with a 0.90 ERA during spring training for the Tribe.

No player who thinks he belongs in the big leagues and delivers the goods in spring training wants to be told he will have to open the season in Triple-A.

That’s the situation relief pitcher Nick Goody found himself in when he opened the season with the Columbus Clippers.

The 25-year-old righthander from Florida was traded by the Yankees to the Indians in December 2016 for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

He put up impressive numbers in six seasons in the Yankees’ minor-league system before making his major-league debut in July 2017. He made seven appearances for the Yankees in 2015 and 27 in 2016. He was 0-0 with a 4.67 ERA in those outings.

In 10 spring training appearances with the Indians, Goody was 0-0 with a 0.90 ERA.

On many teams, that kind of spring gets you on the big-league staff. With the pitching-rich Indians, it got Goody a ticket to Columbus.

With the Clippers, Goody was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA. He struck out 10 of the 17 batters he faced while issuing only one walk.

That earned Goody a promotion to the Indians on April 14 when right-handed reliever Shawn Armstrong was optioned to Columbus.

“It’s a new organization and you want to make a good first impression. Throwing strikes obviously is a key,” Goody said before the Indians faced the Tigers in the opener of a threegame weekend series at Progressive Field.

The door for Goody’s return to the big leagues opened when the Indians were forced to go to their bullpen early in a 10-4 home loss to the White Sox in April 13.

Starting pitcher Josh Tomlin was driven from the game after surrendering seven runs in 1 2/3 innings. Armstrong followed him to the mound and did commendable work, blanking the White Sox on one hit in 2 1/3 innings.

He posted five strikeouts while making a career-high 49 pitches.

Indians manager Terry Francona also used relievers Boone Logan, Zach McAllister and Dan Otero. He called on utility infielder Michael Martinez to pitch the top of the ninth.

With the Indians in need of a fresh arm in the bullpen for the series against the Tigers, the decision was made to send down Armstrong and bring up Goody.

“When you have options, that’s what happens,” Goody said.

Contingency plans

Francona said he and Chris Antonetti, the team’s president for baseball operations, in spring training spoke to Armstrong, Goody, Joe Colon, Kyle Crockett and other relievers with options remaining about what could happen if the Indians had to react quickly to an unanticipated depletion of bullpen depth.

“That probably was beneficial,” Francona said. “When you send them down, what they hear is they’re going to Triple-A and they miss the rest of it. We talked to them at a time when there was no anxiety, no emotion. We were just explaining to then organizationally what happens sometimes.”

Francona said Armstrong’s reaction to being optioned to Columbus after his best performance in the big leagues validated the strategy of raising the subject during spring training.

“He understood. He was professional,” Francona said. “The last thing you want is for a kid to go to Triple-A and not do well because he’s mad. Shawn is in a really good place. Some of that is his maturity, but I’m glad we also talked to him.”

Kipnis update

Jason Kipnis continues his recovery from the right shoulder inflammation that has had him on the disabled list since April 2.

Francona said Kipnis was not set back after getting hit on his left hand by a pitch during a rehab appearance with Double-A Akron on April 12. He also said the plan is for Kipnis to make minor-league rehab appearances somewhere on April 17 and April 18.

Full-season Single-A Lake County is the only local Tribe affiliate scheduled to play at home on those dates. Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Akron both are on road trips, so there is a possibility Kipnis could be in Eastlake when the Captains play the Bowling Green (Ky.) Hot Rods on April 17 and 18.

Familiar faces

Veteran outfielder Austin Jackson of the Indians renewed acquaintances with some members of the Tigers before the series opener. Jackson made his majorleague debut with Detroit in April 2010 and spent 4 ½ seasons with the Tigers before he was traded to Seattle in July 2014.