Lonnie Chisenhall leads youth movement in Cleveland

As Cleveland Indians fans look back on the 2011 season, June 27 will be one date that sticks out the most. Not because Adam Everett was designated for assignment or because the Tribe stopped a three-game losing streak, but because it marked the start of the Lonnie Chisenhall era.

June 27 was the day the Indians summoned their top-ranked prospect from Triple-A Columbus to make his eagerly anticipated Major League debut.

Having been ranked as the nation’s top freshman in college and also a first-round draft pick, Chisenhall was no stranger to pressure and hype. But being ranked as one of the top prospects in the game and stepping into a big league batter’s box in front of thousands of people and hundreds of thousands more watching at home? That’s different.

Fortunately, the Indians front office was quick to put the then 22-year-old’s mind at ease upon his arrival.

“When I got up here they told me I wasn’t up here to be a savior of any sort, just to help the team as much as I could, when I could,” Chisenhall said. “So I knew that going in and that helped me out a lot.”

And it showed. The rookie doubled in his second at-bat to record his first Major League hit before ripping a go-ahead single to right field to record his first big league RBI.

Stepping in against some of the game’s best pitchers is a daunting task by itself for any rookie, but the youngster was called up to the Indians while they were fighting for top spot in their division.

After being at a season-high 15 games over .500 and sitting atop the AL Central division on May 23, the Indians went 10-21 before Chisenhall arrived but remained within striking distance of the Detroit Tigers for the division lead over the next month and a half.

It was the kind of atmosphere that only sweetened Chisenhall’s first games in the Majors.

“It was definitely fun to come up and be contending like that. We battled back and forth for a little while, and I can’t say enough about how fun it was,” he said. “It was definitely important for me to get up here when they were going through that.”

More Indians: Carlos Santana on blocking plate | Justin Masterson: fastball ace

Having been one of the best pure hitters in the minor leagues with the ability to hit to all fields, the Indians were hoping that by calling Chisenhall up, he’d be able to showcase his sweet swing on the big stage and inject some offense into a club that was struggling to score runs.

Though the North Carolina youngster went 54-for-212 (.255) at the plate and amassed 49 strikeouts to nine walks in 223 plate appearances, it’s impossible to ignore the kind of promise he showed in his first tour at the big league level.

Out of Chisenhall’s 54 hits, 20 were for extra bases, including 13 doubles. He gave fans a taste of his power potential as well, hitting seven home runs in roughly one-third of a season at the plate, and five of them came off left-handed pitchers. In fact, he actually hit better against southpaws than right-handers at the big league level (albeit a small sample size), which couldn’t be said during his time in the minors.

That being said, Chisenhall admits that it will take some time to get used to Major League pitchers.

“The pitchers go up there and they’ve got a game plan and they stick with it, they don’t deviate too much,” the third baseman said. “If they know they can get you out doing something they’ll continue to do it until you prove otherwise, and that’s been an adjustment for me.”

In the field, Chisenhall continues to work hard at honing his craft at the hot corner. After all, having played shortstop in his first minor league season, he didn’t start playing third base regularly until his 2009 campaign.

Even though he only appeared in 58 games at third for the Indians this past season, he quickly noticed the difference between playing Major League defense and playing the position in the minors.

“Everything is under a microscope,” he said. “Every run is definitely important, and you’ve got to make every play and make sure you get it done.”

Chisenhall does not project to be a Gold Glove-caliber defender, but his smooth swing and abilities to hit for average and with runners in scoring position are what should help him be successful in the Majors.

While it would seem like the rookie has an overwhelming amount of things to work on over the offseason, he has one simple goal for spring training.

“Come back healthy and ready to go. That’s it. Nothing too big.”