CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Daniel Johnson called his 2019 season a “peek” at what he could do. Tuesday he pulled back the curtain a little more.
Johnson, trying to win a job in the Indians mostly unsettled outfield, hit two home runs in a 9-4 win over the Rangers on a windy day at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Ariz. He homered in consecutive at-bats in the fifth and sixth innings.
In five games, Johnson is hitting .364 (4-for-11). He says he’s just trying to keep his mind and performance on a consistent level.
“I mean obviously I want to win that job, but we make it fun,” said Johnson on a Zoom call with reporters after Tuesday’s game. “The guys around us are all cool. … At the end of the day, we want all of us to succeed. Each and every person out there, we want them to do good. You don’t really think about too much. Just have fun with it and go with the flow.”
The outfield at the moment looks like this: Eddie Rosario is expected to play nearly every day in left field. The main competitors in center field are Oscar Mercado, Bradley Zimmer and Billy Hamilton. Everybody else is jammed into right field. That includes Josh Naylor, Jordan Luplow, Ben Gamel, Harold Ramirez and Johnson. Luplow has yet to play in a game because of an impingement in his left ankle.
Johnson, a left-handed hitter, did a little bit of everything in 2019, his last full season. He hit a combined .290 (140-for-483) with 34 doubles, seven triples, 19 homers and 77 RBI in 123 game at Class AA Akron and Class AAA Columbus.
“I’m versatile,” said Johnson. “I’ve got good arm strength. I can run, a little bit everything, you know? Just really playing my game. Let the tools stand out for themselves.”
Johnson made his big-league debut last year, but it consisted of just 12 at-bats. He spent the rest of the season at the alternate training site at Classic Park in Eastlake because the minor league season was canceled because of the pandemic.
On the clock:
Temperature: It will be 68 degrees and cloudy on Wednesday in Goodyear, Ariz. The low will be 45 degrees and winds will reach 16 mph in the desert.
Good cause: The Baseball Assistance Team (BATS) will address Indians players and staff at 9 a.m. M.T. BATS helps members of the baseball family in need.
Stretch it out: Position players and pitchers begin practice at 10 a.m. on agility field.
On the mound: Right-hander Cal Quantrill (0-1, 5.40) will face the Angels and RHP Alex Cobb on Wednesday at 3:05 p.m. ET at Goodyear Ballpark. SportsTime Ohio will carry the Angels feed of the game. REAL 106.1 will carry the Indians’ radio broadcast.
They will follow: Triston McKenzie, Oliver Perez, James Karinchak, Blake Parker and DJ Johnson are scheduled to follow Quantrill against the Angels.
Indians lineup: 2B Cesar Hernandez, SS Andres Gimenez, 3B Jose Ramirez, LF Eddie Rosario, DH Franmil Reyes, RF Josh Naylor, 1B Jake Bauers, C Roberto Perez, CF Oscar Mercado, RHP Quantrill.
Length of game: Game between Indians and Angels is scheduled for 7 1/2 innings. Angels have enough pitching for seven innings. Indians pitchers will work the eighth to finish the game.
Killer Bs: Indians will host the Reds in a five-inning B-game. Carlos Vargas, Nick Wittgren and Emmanuel Clase are scheduled to pitch for the Indians. First pitch scheduled for 10:30 a.m. MT.
They said it: “José and Franmil both addressed the team and in a very thoughtful and sincere way. Other than that, I’d like to just keep it in-house. I think any time we choose to do that, I think that’s the best way. The idea is never to embarrass anybody, and I explained that to José and Franmil,” -- Francona on Jose Ramirez and Franmil Reyes being allowed back in the Indians bubble on Tuesday after breaking COVID protocols on Friday.
New Indians face masks for sale: Here’s where you can buy Cleveland Indians-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All MLB proceeds donated to charity.
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