INDIANS Ludwick has much to prove in camp

He's spent more time in the training room than the batters box in three years.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) -- Ryan Ludwick knows the clock is ticking on his career with the Cleveland Indians.
"This is a big year for me," the outfielder said Sunday. "I'm 26 years old, have injuries on my resume, and have to prove I can stay healthy."
He also has to earn a spot on the 25-man roster in order to stay with the team because he is out of options. If he doesn't break camp with Cleveland, he'll be placed on waivers.
"I feel like if I play well, I'll have a job somewhere," he said. "They [the Indians] will have to make a decision."
So far, the right-handed hitter has been impressive in his quest to claim a spot as Cleveland's fourth outfielder.
"Luddy looks good," manager Eric Wedge said. "We know he can play. What we don't know is his durability. He has worked hard for the opportunity to come back and show us."
Looks healthy now
Ludwick showed good speed and agility in the Indians' first spring game against Houston on Thursday, making a long run and sliding, backhand catch of a fly ball hit into the right-field corner. The next day against the Astros, he hit a long home run over the left-field fence.
"The catch was special," he said. "The home run was nice, too, but I know I can hit. On the catch, I covered a lot of ground and the best thing was I didn't feel a thing."
That is the most important aspect of Ludwick's training camp. For the past three years, he spent more time in the trainer's room than in the batter's box.
A second-round draft pick by Oakland in 1999, he had a couple of big years in the Athletics' system, totaling 55 homers and 205 RBIs in 2000 and 2001 before being traded to Texas.
He made his big-league debut with the Rangers in 2002 before being sent back to Triple-A and fracturing his left hip. He missed the rest of that season and the start of the next one, but was hitting .303 with 17 homers and 63 RBI in 81 games at Triple-A Oklahoma City when he was dealt to Cleveland for two players in July 2003.
Indians general manager Mark Shapiro called Ludwick "a potential 30-homer player," at the time of the trade. In 39 games for Cleveland in 2003, Ludwick hit seven homers with 26 RBI -- but hurt his right knee in a collision with Detroit's Carlos Pena while sliding back to first base in mid-September.
Surgery in 2003
He had surgery and the Indians expected him to come to camp last year ready to claim a starting job. Instead of facing fastballs, however, all Ludwick saw was ice bags, whirlpools and another knee operation.
"It was very frustrating to see time in the big leagues passing you by," Ludwick said. "To be honest, I was bummed out."
He spent most of 2004 rehabilitating in the minors before finally getting 50 at-bats with the Indians in September. Even then, he still wasn't 100 percent.
"I feel a huge difference this spring," said Ludwick. "Last year, when I was hitting or running, I felt the knee all the time. Now, nothing."
Ludwick still feels the pressure of having to prove he can play full-time.
"It is still worrisome for me," he admitted. "I know I can't expect to come to camp and have a job. I have to prove myself. Most of all, I have to prove I can stay away from injuries. If I do that, I think the rest will take care of itself."