BALTIMORE - One player's strained calf is another's opportunity.
When the Indians placed Lonnie Chisenhall on the disabled list on April 8 with an injurred right calf, Tyler Naquin was recalled from Class AAA Columbus. Naquin opened the season with the Indians, but was optioned to Columbus when Michael Brantley came off the DL on April 5.
Naquin is making the most of his second chance.
On Sunday, Naquin made his 13th start of the season when he opened in right field against the Orioles at Camden Yards. He's hitting .278 (10-for-36) with one homer and four RBI.
Among the regulars in manager Terry Francona's lineup, his batting average is the second highest next to Brantley's .341 (14-for-41). On a team that's hitting .211 overall, that's not too bad.
"I kind of feel like the second time he came back, he does look a little more comfortable," said Francona. "I think it's easy for us to maybe forget when guys are going down, coming back, and sometimes that's not the easiest thing to do or handle."
In 2016, Naquin finished third in the AL Rookie of the Year voting as he made the Indians out of spring training. Last year he spent just 19 games with the Tribe as he dealt with back and knee injuries.
When Chisenhall went to the DL with a re-occurrence of the calf injury that sidelined him for much of the second half of the 2017 season, Naquin had a good idea that he was going to get some extended playing time.
"He seems more relaxed this time around," said Francona.
Naquin played center field for the Indians in 2016, but he's played mostly right field this year.
"I think he is real comfortable in right," said Francona. "He hadn't played a ton of left and we put him out there in spring training just to cover for Brantley. But I do think right field might be his best position."
INDIANS
SS Francisco Lindor.
2B Jason Kipnis.
3B Jose Ramirez.
LF Michael Brantley.
DH Edwin Encarnacion.
1B Yonder Alonso.
C Yan Gomes.
RF Tyler Naquin.
CF Rajai Davis*.
RHP Corey Kluber, 2-1, 1.52.
*Bradley Zimmer scratched with mild right ankle sprain.
ORIOLES
LF Craig Genty.
DH Pedro Alvarez.
SS Manny Machado.
CF Adam Jones.
1B Chris Davis.
3B Tim Beckham.
RF Anthony Santander.
C Caleb Joseph.
2B Luis Sardinas.
RHP Andrew Cashner, 1-2, 3.00.
UMPIRES
H John Tumpane.
1B Ron Kulpa.
2B Gabe Morales.
3B Ed Hickox.