The Cleveland Indians decided to call-up Daniel Johnson over the weekend when Franmil Reyes hit the paternity list.
The experiment did not go well.
Johnson began with an 0-for-4 day on Saturday.
But it was his first MLB game of the season, so he deserved a second chance.
Things only got worse Sunday when he went hitless and posted five strikeouts against the Chicago White Sox.
That feat is known as a platinum sombrero.
Johnson needs to build up his confidence again so the Indians decided to demote him ahead of Monday’s game.
Greetings.
Some housekeeping moves:
+ Reinstated OF Franmil Reyes from the Paternity List
+ Recalled OF Harold Ramirez from the Alternate Site
– Optioned OF Daniel Johnson to the Taxi Squad
– Optioned LHP Kyle Nelson#OurCLE pic.twitter.com/ru6Js4sD4I— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) May 3, 2021
Fans will also note Harold Ramirez is the latest member of the outfield rotation.
Daniel Johnson’s Rough Weekend
Johnson is a player fans were expecting to see since the moment the 2021 season began.
He was poised for a chance and finally got one to begin the month of May.
Going 0-for-9 was awful, but this will not be his final chance in the majors.
Johnson joined the organization in the Yan Gomes trade and has been listed as a notable prospect since arriving.
He made his MLB debut back in 2020 with 13 at-bats in only five games.
For now he is back on the emergency taxi squad.
He should soon head to Triple-A and get some game reps in before getting another chance with the Indians in 2021.
Harold Ramirez Gets the Promotion
Ramirez was another player added to the outfield mix this past offseason.
He debuted with the Miami Marlins in 2019 but only had 10 total at-bats in 2020.
Ramirez now gets a shot as the starting center fielder.
So what happened to Jordan Luplow?
It turns out he is currently dealing with a leg injury.
Terry Francona said that Jordan Luplow "jarred his leg a little bit" when he stepped on first base the other night. As of now, the training staff doesn't think it's too bad, but if it doesn't clear up in the next couple days, he may end up on the IL.
— Mandy Bell (@MandyBell02) May 3, 2021
This is not exactly an uplifting update.
If it was not bad, there should be no threat of him landing on the injured list.
However, it may come down to pain tolerance if there is no physical injury involved.
Thus, Ramirez gets a shot to prove he belongs in the mix while Luplow recovers.
This may come as a surprise to some fans with both Bradley Zimmer and Oscar Mercado still waiting in the wings.
At this point, Zimmer may be out of chances.
Maybe he can be traded to the Chicago White Sox as they are now desperate for outfielders.
The same may be true for Mercado, but the team did express more hope in him earlier this year.
At the time of writing, Ramirez did rip a double in his first Indians at-bat.
So that is quite the positive start as he tries to stick with the club.
The Indians are letting the talent rise to the top this season.
Johnson’s struggles could be an opening for Ramirez or someone else down the line.
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