Chris Gimenez walked up to the plate with the game on the
line.
Tied 1-1 with the Seattle Mariners, with two runners aboard and
two outs in the bottom of the ninth, all Gimenez needed to do was
get a hit, any kind of hit, to help the Cleveland Indians win their
March 16 Cactus League contest. It was the kind of situation every
ballplayer dreams of, especially when one is fighting for an
opening-day roster spot in the final weeks of spring training.
GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Chris Gimenez walked up to the plate with the game on the line.
Tied 1-1 with the Seattle Mariners, with two runners aboard and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, all Gimenez needed to do was get a hit, any kind of hit, to help the Cleveland Indians win their March 16 Cactus League contest. It was the kind of situation every ballplayer dreams of, especially when one is fighting for an opening-day roster spot in the final weeks of spring training.
“As a younger player, I would have said, ‘I’m gonna hit a walk-off (home run) here,’ but I could have won it with a single,” Gimenez said. “It shows how much I’ve grown as a player.”
His cut on a 1-2 slider from Mariners pitcher Luis Pena showed those within the Indians organization just another example of why they shouldn’t underestimated the Gilroy native’s value. Gimenez blasted a three-run homer to win the game and continue to turn heads.
“That was amazing,” he said, adding that his parents, aunt and some family friends were in attendance. “It couldn’t have happened at a better time.”
Gimenez currently boasts a .320 batting average in 25 at-bats. He has two home runs, seven RBI and the team’s third-highest slugging percentage at .680, while also making contributions in the field at a variety of positions.
“They’ve been very vocal with how they’ve been impressed with me, especially at the plate,” Gimenez said.
Coming down with an illness days after his game-winner, Gimenez is just getting back in the lineup.
“Physically I was little sluggish, but now I have all my strength back and I’m looking to get back out there,” he said.
Gimenez’s chances of making the 25-man roster are slim due to a logjam at the positions he can play – catcher, first base, third base and the corner outfield spots – but that doesn’t mean he’s giving up hope of hearing his name called. He’s already surpassed the expectations of some by staying clear of the club’s most recent cuts.
“They haven’t really said anything about making the roster yet,” Gimenez admitted. “That being said, there’s a couple weeks left in camp and something might happen.”
Injuries could occur, or Gimenez could simply outperform those currently slated above him. Regardless, the 26-year-old is making the most of his first-ever spring training and hasn’t resigned himself to Triple-A Columbus quite yet.
“I can’t do anything any different,” he said. “I’ve been going about my business in a real positive manner and the key for me is not to change that – just continue to prove to them that I’m a viable option, that they can stick me anywhere at any time and I’m not going to be a defensive liability.”
