Cleveland Indians list of 40-man roster infielders headed to Spring Training

 Lonnie Chisenhall hits a solo home run during the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on May 28, 2012.Who's He?: Lonnie Chisenhall is a 24-year old third baseman, drafted by the Tribe in the first round of the 2008 draft. He has appeared in 109 games over the past two seasons, splitting time at third with Jack Hannahan and others. Chisenhall has shown a lot of promise as a potential power-hitter from the left side, hitting 12 home runs and 19 doubles in 374 career plate apperances. In that stretch though, he's only walked 16 times alongside 76 strikeouts.He's struggled at times in the field in his brief time in the majors as well, making 16 errors with a .934 fielding percentage.Hopes for 2013: Chisenhall, with the departure of Hannhan earlier this offseason, is likely to be the starting third baseman this season. He will hope to improve his defense and hitting and build off his major league experience.Asdrubal Cabrera is late on the tag as Orlando Hudson steals second during the first inning at Progressive Field on October 2, 2012.Who’s He?: Cabrera has been a regular in the Tribe infield since 2007. Though now known as the team’s starting shortstop, he previously saw time as a second and third baseman. Still just 27 years old, Cabrera was first signed as a free agent by the Seattle Mariners in 2002 and came to Cleveland in a 2006 trade that sent Eduardo Perez to Seattle.His defense has been near the top of the league, despite also committing a lot of errors. His league-leading 19 miscues last year is slightly misleading, given that he also had one of the strongest range factors, number of double plays turned and assists. Offensively, Cabrera has long been a strong piece in the Indians’ lineup. In his six years in Cleveland, Cabrera features a .279 batting average with a decent .342 on-base percentage. He also averages 38 extra-base hits and nearly 60 runs a season.Hopes for 2013: Cabrera most of all is looking to stay healthy for 2013. He’s still relatively young, but has had injury problems in previous years. Hopefully he can also serve as a mentor to the newest and youngest Indians signings and call ups.Mike Aviles hits a double to knock in a run in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angelsz at Fenway Park on August 22, 2012.Who’s He?: Mike Aviles was first drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 7th round of the 2003 draft. He was traded to the Indians in a deal that sent Esmil Rogers to the Blue Jays for Aviles and Yan Gomes.Aviles, 31, has been a career utility player for the Royals and Boston Red Sox. A five-year veteran, he’s appeared in 475 games primarily as a middle-infielder, though he has spent time as a third baseman and briefly appeared as an outfielder.  Last year was the most games he’s played in, 136, batting .250 with a meager .282 on-base percentage in Boston. He is not entirely prone to the strikeout, with just 77 in 546 plate appearances last year, but Aviles only walked 23 times. He did breakout with 41 extra-base hits including 13 home runs.Hopes for 2013: Earlier this offseason it seemed like Aviles might have seen important playing time as a super-utility player. It’s unlikely now given the rash of new signings and trades, but Aviles may still be useful given his experience and flexibility in the field.View the list »
Cord Phelps congratulates Lonnie Chisenhall on a solo home run against the Minnesota Twins on September 10, 2012.

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As pitchers, catchers and soon position players will have reported to Spring Training camp, the Cleveland Indians Examiner will take a look at the most recent active 40-man roster and non-roster invitees of camp. This is part three of a multi-part series which will display all players reporting for the Tribe camp, a brief career background, and their previous experience in the big leagues or minor leagues. Part 1 of the pitchers group can be found here. Part 2 of the pitchers group can be found here. The list of catchers and outfielders can be found here.

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Click "View the List" to see the group of infielders on the 40-man roster invited to Spring Training camp for the 2013 Cleveland Indians season.

Got a question about the Tribe or baseball? E-mail at TBuchan@falcon.bgsu.edu. I will post all questions and answer them on the Cleveland Indians Examiner.

What do you think of the Indians' infielders heading to Spring Training?

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  • Mike Aviles hits a double to knock in a run in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angelsz at Fenway Park on August 22, 2012.Who’s He?: Mike Aviles was first drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 7th round of the 2003 draft. He was traded to the Indians in a deal that sent Esmil Rogers to the Blue Jays for Aviles and Yan Gomes.Aviles, 31, has been a career utility player for the Royals and Boston Red Sox. A five-year veteran, he’s appeared in 475 games primarily as a middle-infielder, though he has spent time as a third baseman and briefly appeared as an outfielder.  Last year was the most games he’s played in, 136, batting .250 with a meager .282 on-base percentage in Boston. He is not entirely prone to the strikeout, with just 77 in 546 plate appearances last year, but Aviles only walked 23 times. He did breakout with 41 extra-base hits including 13 home runs.Hopes for 2013: Earlier this offseason it seemed like Aviles might have seen important playing time as a super-utility player. It’s unlikely now given the rash of new signings and trades, but Aviles may still be useful given his experience and flexibility in the field.
  • Asdrubal Cabrera is late on the tag as Orlando Hudson steals second during the first inning at Progressive Field on October 2, 2012.Who’s He?: Cabrera has been a regular in the Tribe infield since 2007. Though now known as the team’s starting shortstop, he previously saw time as a second and third baseman. Still just 27 years old, Cabrera was first signed as a free agent by the Seattle Mariners in 2002 and came to Cleveland in a 2006 trade that sent Eduardo Perez to Seattle.His defense has been near the top of the league, despite also committing a lot of errors. His league-leading 19 miscues last year is slightly misleading, given that he also had one of the strongest range factors, number of double plays turned and assists. Offensively, Cabrera has long been a strong piece in the Indians’ lineup. In his six years in Cleveland, Cabrera features a .279 batting average with a decent .342 on-base percentage. He also averages 38 extra-base hits and nearly 60 runs a season.Hopes for 2013: Cabrera most of all is looking to stay healthy for 2013. He’s still relatively young, but has had injury problems in previous years. Hopefully he can also serve as a mentor to the newest and youngest Indians signings and call ups.
  •  Lonnie Chisenhall hits a solo home run during the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on May 28, 2012.Who's He?: Lonnie Chisenhall is a 24-year old third baseman, drafted by the Tribe in the first round of the 2008 draft. He has appeared in 109 games over the past two seasons, splitting time at third with Jack Hannahan and others. Chisenhall has shown a lot of promise as a potential power-hitter from the left side, hitting 12 home runs and 19 doubles in 374 career plate apperances. In that stretch though, he's only walked 16 times alongside 76 strikeouts.He's struggled at times in the field in his brief time in the majors as well, making 16 errors with a .934 fielding percentage.Hopes for 2013: Chisenhall, with the departure of Hannhan earlier this offseason, is likely to be the starting third baseman this season. He will hope to improve his defense and hitting and build off his major league experience.
  • Juan Diaz poses for a portrait during a photo day at Goodyear Ballpark on February 28, 2012.Who's He?: Juan Diaz was first signed by the Seattle Mariners as a free agent in 2006, coming to Cleveland in the 2010 trade that sent Russell Branyon to Seattle for Diaz and Ezequiel Carrera.In nearly three full minor league seasons in the Tribe organization, Diaz primarily appeared for the AA Akron Aeros and AAA Columbus Clippers. Last year, in 115 games between AA and AAA, Diaz as a shortstop batted .266 with a .314 on-base percentage, with 29 doubles and 13 home runs. Diaz's major league experience includes just five games last year, all between May 25 and May 29. He did get four singles and a walk in 17 plate appearances. Hopes for 2013: With Asdrubal Cabrera at short and Mike Aviles set to backup the middle infield spots, barring several injuries, Diaz is unlikely to see any significant major league time in 2013. He could see a late-season call up if his decent minor league hitting continues.
  • Playing in his first Major League game Yan Gomes warms up during MLB action against the New York Yankees at the Rogers Centre May 17, 2012.Who's He?: Yan Gomes is a 25-year old catcher and corner-infielder formerly of the Toronto Blue Jays. He was traded to Cleveland with Mike Aviles earlier this offseason for Esmil Rogers.Gomes made his major league debut in 2012, appearing in 43 games for the Blue Jays as a first baseman, catcher, third baseman and also played eight games in the outfield. In that stretch, he had just 20 hits in 111 plate appearances, striking out 32 times and walking just six. Hopes for 2013: Gomes is set to likely be a super utility player for the Tribe this year as a backup behind the plate for Carlos Santana and Lou Marson as well as the other infield positions.
  • Second baseman Jason Kipnis throws to first base as Dan Johnson is out at second during the third inning at Progressive Field on October 2, 2012.Who's He?: Jason Kipnis was drafted by the Indians in the 2nd  round of the 2009 draft. He was called up in 2011 and has remained the team's primary second baseman since. In his first full season last year, he batted .257 with a respectable .335 on-base percentage. In 672 plate appearances, Kipnis walked 67 times, striking out just 109 times, with 40 extra-base hits. Hopes for 2013: Kipnis will look to cement his role as a middle-infielder, pairing with Asdrubal Cabrera as one of the American Leagues' top double-play combinations.
  • Mike McDade poses for a portrait at Dunedin Stadium on March 2, 2012.Who's He?: Mike McDade is a 23-year old who was first drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 6th round of the 2007 draft. He was claimed on waivers by the Tribe earlier this offseason. McDade has played six full seasons of minor league ball, working his way from the lower A leagues to the AAA Las Vegas 51s last year.Most of his minor league experience has come in with the AA New Hampshire Rivercats as a power-hitting middle infielder. Hopes for 2013: McDade will look to impress his new team with a productive Spring Training, and perhaps can manage a late-season call up as a power hitter.
  • Who's He?: Chris McGuiness is a 24-year old first baseman formerly of the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers organization. He was selected in the 2012 Rule 5 Draft by the Indians. Last year, he played with the AA Firsco RoughRiders in the Rangers organization, appearing in 123 games and hitting .268 with a .366 on-base percentage. He slugged for a notable .474 percentage, thanks to 25 doubles and 23 home runs. Hopes for 2013: Having never played higher than AA, it's unlikely McGuiness sees any major league time in 2013, but his experience being invited to Spring Training will give him a chance to learn from veterans and can put in solid time for the AA Akron Aeroes and/or AAA Columbus Clippers.
  • Cord Phelps throws to first base for a double play as Ray Olmedo is out at second base during the third inning at Progressive Field on October 3, 2012.Who's He?: Cord Phelps is a 26-year old middle-infielder drafted by the Indians in the 3rd round of the 2008 draft. He's appeared in 49 games between the 2011 and 2012 major league seasons, with 114 plate appearances. He's struggled to adapt to big-league pitching, with just 18 hits in that stretch for a .173 batting average and just four extra-base hits. Hopes for 2013: Phelps may be called up if necessary, but his major league time will likely be limited to a late-season call up.
  • Mark Reynolds connects for a hit against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 8, 2012.Who's He?: Mark Reynolds was first drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 16th round of the 2004 draft. He was signed as a free agent by the Indians earlier this offseason. A 29-year old corner infielder, Reynolds is noted as an "all-or-nothing" power hitter. He has averaged 30 home runs a season in his six major league seasons, but in that span, he averages 187 strikeouts. He led the league in strikeouts every season from 2008 to 2011. Hopes for 2013: Reynolds will most likely be the team's primary designated hitter, and can also fill in as a backup corner-infielder.
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, Cleveland Indians Examiner

An avid baseball fan his whole life, Tyler Buchanan follows the Cleveland Indians closely. From injuries and trades to close divisional races, Buchanan takes a look at the biggest stories and headlines involving the Tribe. Buchanan has written for Examiner.com since February 2011, also serving as...

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