Youngsters Chisenhall, Kipnis expected to grow up quickly

The Indians were able to use the 2011 season to transition two of their young infielders to the major leagues.

Second baseman Jason Kipnis and third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall made their major league debuts last season and received significant playing time in the second half of the season.

Kipnis hit .272 with seven home runs and 19 RBI in 136 at bats, while Chisenhall hit .255 with seven home runs and 22 RBI in 212 at bats. Kipnis had a .507 slugging percentage and .333 on base percentage, while Chisenhall had a .415 slugging percentage and .284 on base percentage.

On the flip side, Kipnis was much better at second than Chisenhall was at third. Kipnis, in 36 games, made six errors and had a .963 fielding percentage.

Chisenhall in 58 games made 10 errors and had a .940 fielding percentage.

Chisenhall's defense was so shaky at times that he was frequently replaced late in games by defensive specialist Jack Hannahan.

Going into spring training this year, Kipnis' situation at second base is more secure than Chisenhall's at third. Indians manager Manny Acta said Chisenhall and Hannahan will get playing time at third base in training camp, and a decision will be made at the end of camp on who the starter will be.

Chisenhall is seen as a slight favorite, but Hannahan's superior defense cannot be dismissed.

Kipnis' situation at second base is more certain.

Barring injury, he should be the Indians' Opening Day starter at that position.

Two factors are at play there. One is that Kipnis looked like a more advanced hitter than Chisenhall last year. The other factor is that the Indians don't have an alternative to Kipnis at second base as accomplished as Hannahan is as a potential alternative to Chisenhall at third.

That said, it's obvious that Indians officials will be rooting for big years from both second-year players. Kipnis and Chisenhall were the two top minor league hitting prospects in the organization last year.

Now that they have graduated to the major leagues, the two players are being counted on by the offensively-challenged Indians to continue to mature as hitters, to the point that they can make significant contributions offensively in their first full seasons in the big leagues.

Copyright (C) 2012 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.