2015 Cleveland Indians: Version 2.0
September 2, 2015Reports: Cardale Jones taken to ER Wednesday night
September 3, 2015If you’re surprised by the headline, we wouldn’t blame you. If it seems like just last month that Lonnie Chisenhall was a struggling third baseman who was sent down to Triple-A to work out a few kinks, well—it was. Since being promoted back to the big league team, and completely changing positions, Chisenhall has completely reinvented himself as a player. So much so that the third baseman-turned-right fielder has been named Defensive Player of the Month for August—his first month at the position—by ESPN.com’s Sweet Spot blog. From Mark Simon:
Chisenhall wins the award despite never having played right field in the major leagues before the last few days in July. He finished August with eight Defensive Runs Saved, showing skill both at catching fly balls and using his throwing arm to deter baserunners. It was a great month all around for Chisenhall, who hit .403 with a 1.026 OPS in 67 August at-bats.
Chisenhall’s work at third base has improved over his career, but his regression at the plate caused the Indians to give Giovanny Urshela a shot, a decision which has worked out well thus far. Having a gaping hole at right field due to a decade of platooning with little to show for it, Chisenhall gave right field a shot for just a few games in Columbus for being called back up. Fortunately for Cleveland, he hasn’t skipped a beat.
For comparison purposes, left fielder Michael Brantley has been credited with zero net runs saved over the course of the entire season; Michael Bourn has just seven before the trade to Atlanta. We leave you with a few looks at his work in the grass over the last month. Here’s to a few more months of top flight glovework.
Chisenhall throws out the Oakland Athletics Max Muncy at home plate:
Chisenhall diving and spinning to rob the Minnesota Twins Trevor Plouffe of a hit:
Chisenhall adjusting to the ball in the air and switching his hips in time to make the high catch on a Jackie Bradley Jr. batted ball: