Speed could land Davis a spot on the final roster

Athletes who do something historic for their team often are remembered for that one great feat when they were so much more than a one-game contributor. Enter Rajai Davis. Davis will always be remembered for hitting the two-run home run for the Indians in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie Game 7 of the 2016 World Series with the Cubs, 6-6. The Cubs eventually won the game and the series, 8-7, in 10 innings.

Davis was much more than a one-swing player for the Tribe two years ago, which is why he is back with the Indians this year on a non-roster invitation to spring training in Goodyear, Ariz. Davis led the American League with 43 stolen bases in 2016 and, from what manager Terry Francona says, the 37-year-old outfielder hasn’t gotten much slower on the base paths.

“He has really held his speed,” Francona told reporters on Feb. 26. “If you look at him, you see why. He works at it so diligently.

“His first at-bat (in a Cactus League game Feb. 23) he hit a ground ball and it was bang-bang at first. He’s amazing to me, whether he’s starting or on the bench, he can be at full speed right now. He gives you a righthanded bat. He plays mostly center and left (field), but he can go to right.”

Davis played in 134 games with the Indians in 2016. Not only did he steal 43 bases and hit one of the most dramatic home runs in Indians history, he also scored 74 runs, homered 12 times and drove in 48 runs while hitting .249.

The 2017 season did not go as well. He played in 100 games with Oakland and 17 with the Red Sox. He batted 336 times compared to 495 at-bats with the Indians a year earlier, but he still stole 29 bases and scored 56 runs last season.

“One of my goals every season is to be the leader in steals,” Davis told reporters in Goodyear. “To do it (in 2016) after so many years of trying, it’s what I’ve dreamed about doing.”

Davis said he got “about a hundred hugs the first day back. It was great to feel the love, as if I never left.”

Davis could wind up competing with Tyler Naquin for one roster spot. Melvin Upton Jr., like Davis, is in camp as a nonroster invitee. It is unlikely all three will make the 25man roster to start the regular season, but Michael Brantley (ankle) and Brandon Guyer (wrist) are recovering from injuries, so the Indians might need some insurance in the outfield to start the season.

“(Davis) is comfortable in Cleveland,” Francona said. “I think he felt his year here was a good year for him. We all know how the fans felt about him. Potentially, it’s a good fit. We’re going to have decisions to make at the end of camp, but he does a lot of things we’re looking for.”

Davis was hitless in four at-bats over two games heading into the Indians game with the Milwaukee Brewers on Feb. 26.

Game time

Indians prospects Bobby Bradley and Francisco Mejia had big days at the plate in the Tribe’s 7-6 loss to host Milwaukee on Feb. 26.

Bradley started at first base and was 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

Mejia hit a two-out, tworun home run in the fifth inning and finished with two runs scored.

Josh Tomlin started and struck out two in two scoreless innings.

Dan Otero followed and gave up three runs, all earned, and walked three in two-thirds of an inning.

The Tribe next faces the A’s on Feb. 27.

ROSS D. FRANKLIN — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Reds first baseman Joey Votto reaches to make the catch as the throw beats Indians’ Rajai Davis to first base during the second inning Feb. 23 in Goodyear, Ariz.

CARLOS OSORIO — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Francisco Mejia connects for a two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Brewers on Feb. 26 in Maryvale, Ariz.