SCOTTSDALE, Ariz: Indians top prospect Bradley Zimmer will not open the 2017 season at the major-league level, but he will leave spring camp having made a strong impression.
Zimmer was informed on Sunday that he was being reassigned to minor-league camp, though he’s had an outstanding spring while continuing to make some swing adjustments, hitting .358 with a 1.084 OPS in 53 at-bats entering Sunday. The Indians have also noted some gains in his defensive play in center field and in how he’s ran the bases.
Zimmer will begin 2017 in Triple-A. The Indians’ message to Zimmer upon delivering the news was that of a hope that he forces their hand in terms of when he makes his major-league debut.