Indians promote Chisenhall to play third

Associated Press

PHOENIX

The Cleveland Indians promoted top minor league prospect Lonnie Chisenhall, hoping he can help spark the team’s stagnant offense.

The 22-year-old third baseman batted seventh against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night in his major league debut.

In the sixth inning Chisenhall delivered an RBI single to give the Indians a 4-3 lead.

To make room for Chisenhall, the club designated infielder Adam Everett for assignment.

Chisenhall, a left-handed hitter, batted .265 with 14 doubles, seven homers and 44 RBIs in 65 games for Triple-A Columbus. He’s hitting .303 with runners on base and .360 with runners in scoring position.

“He has the ability to be a very good hitter at this level,” manager Manny Acta said before the game. “I mean, a good player overall. You don’t get picked in the first round just by having a cool name.”

The Indians scored just four runs while being swept in three straight games over the weekend in San Francisco. Cleveland has scored one run or less in nine games this month.

Acta said Chisenhall will be the everyday third baseman, except against the occasional “tough lefty.” He moves into the lineup in place of Jack Hannahan, who was hitting .183 in his last 32 games.

Acta cautioned that Chisenhall is “not a finished product by all means.”

“He’s still a guy who’s going to come over here and go through the learning process,” he said.