Cleveland Indians: Bobby Bradley needs a place to play

Bobby Bradley has proven he can hit for power in the minor leagues. Now it is time for the Cleveland Indians to find a place for him to play at the big-league level.

Cleveland Indians first baseman Bobby Bradley is off to a hot start this spring. Thus far in preseason he has cranked two home runs and reached base six times in thirteen at bats. If he can continue to produce he is going to force the hand of his employer.

Bradley has hit at least twenty-three home runs each year in the minors since 2015, topping out with thirty-three last year at AAA-Columbus of the International League. He earned a fifth-teen game cup of coffee with the Indians in the middle of the season before being sent back down.

A first baseman by trade, Bradley split time between there and designated hitter when he was in the majors last year.

Carlos Santana is the incumbent first baseman and even Jake Bauers slots ahead of Bradley on the depth chart. Domingo Santana was brought in this offseason and he’ll get the first nod at the designated hitter spot this upcoming season.

Bobby Bradley is going to be a casualty of the numbers crunch as the end of spring training nears. The Indians brass will want Bradley in the lineup everyday as to not hinder his development, and there isn’t a spot in the everyday lineup for him so he’ll be ticketed for AAA. Bradley will turn 24 years old in May and shouldn’t be relegated to riding buses in the minors too much longer.

How long of a leash will Domingo Santana have? If Santana is unable to provide the type of power numbers the Indians want him to, his $1.5 million salary isn’t enough to keep him around. Bradley could easily slide into the DH role when Carlos Santana plays first base, and first base when Santana is the designated hitter.

The Cleveland Indians know what they have in Bobby Bradley. Now they need to give him the opportunity to display his talents.