As for adding a hitter, this guy would be a great one to add:
Michael Brantley, Indians Feeling Genuine Excitement, Optimism Following Tuesday’s BP Session
July 5, 2016 5:11 PM By T.J. Zuppe | 92.3 The Fan
CLEVELAND (92.3 The Fan) – Michael Brantley climbed in the batting cage, set up on the left-handed hitter’s side of the plate and tapped his bat on his left shoulder, just as the outfielder has done just before every pitch throughout his professional career.
The batting practice offering came in, and Brantley connected with his vintage left-handed swing, driving the ball deep and over the right field wall. The baseball bounced off one seat and fell between several others a few rows back.
But he didn’t look up. He didn’t watch the baseball sail over the Progressive Field fence. He stood directly at home plate, pulled his bat back up on his shoulder and waited for the next BP pitch to come his way.
“It’s BP,” Brantley said. “It’s not real. I was more worried about contact, hitting good line drives. If the ball goes out, it goes out.”
Sure, the balls hit over the wall during batting practice don’t register on the back of anyone’s baseball card. But Tuesday’s BP session for the Indians’ veteran outfielder was more than just your average early round of swing practice in the cage.
Tuesday’s batting practice under the hot sun at the ballpark marked the first time Brantley — who has only managed to play in just 11 games this season, as he’s battled shoulder issues — had climbed in the cage on the field since being forced to hit pause on his rehabilitation in June.
As it turned out, nothing was structurally wrong with the Cleveland Indians’ veteran outfielder’s surgically repaired right shoulder. Instead, Brantley was dealing with right biceps tendinitis, which was causing him some continued discomfort.
Armed with a cortisone shot to help the swelling and a renewed sense of relief, Brantley eventually ramped his hitting progression back up, leading to the BP session prior to Tuesday’s matchup against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field.
“I’m very excited where I’m at,” Brantley said. “I wake up every day with a smile on my face because I know I get to go to work and do what I love. And I get to do it unrestricted right now. It’s awesome.”
More than his previous attempts to rehab and return from the off-season shoulder surgery, this comeback bid is accompanied by a greater overall sense of excitement and optimism.
And that feeling was echoed by many who were on hand to watch Brantley swing in the cage, including Michael’s father, Mickey Brantley, Indians General Manager Mike Chernoff and President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti.
“I definitely sense [more optimism] with him,” Antonetti said. “It was encouraging to get that directly from Michael, but yeah, I clearly sense from talking to him that he feels really good. He’s feeling strong and — some of the things we’ve talked about — not only feeling healthy, but feeling strong and unrestricted.
“Michael’s starting to feel that now and he’s excited about where he is in the process.”
While the next step in the progression is yet to be determined — most of how quickly Brantley progresses will be determined how he bounces back following activity — the left-handed hitter couldn’t help but display an eagerness to get back and help his teammates, who have impressively built a 6.5 game lead in the American League Central in his absence.
“My swing felt great,” Brantley said. “I feel normal. For the last week or so, I’ve been swinging the bat great in the cage. I’ve been itching to get back out here. But with the same swing I’m taking in the cage every day, transition that out to the field and BP outside. That’s all we’re doing different. It’s very exciting how I feel right now.”
And as for the upcoming All-Star Break next week, the Tribe’s talented left fielder has no interest in taking more time off. For him, next week just presents another opportunity to inch closer to his impending return to Cleveland’s lineup.
“I had a long enough break,” Brantley said. “I’m not going anywhere. Hopefully I’ll be working somewhere, maybe getting games in, maybe not. But whatever I’m in at the time, I know I’ll be getting some work done. No break for me. I had enough break.”
