MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — When you’ve been in the major leagues five different times with five different teams, it could be easy to fall into a rut after a decent year in Triple A without being called up. But utilityman Jake Elmore continues to go about his business with the hopes of making it the majors with his sixth different team.
But it’s not exactly business as usual for the 31-year-old Alabama native — he’s changing his approach at the plate.
A right-handed batter, Elmore said he typically hits the ball to right field or down the middle. So, he’s working to even out his spray chart.
“I was basically cutting my swing off and stepping my front foot across. So now, I worked extensively on stepping straight to give myself freedom to pull the ball more,” Elmore said ahead of a game in Charlotte over the weekend. “I’m still thinking, pull the ball to the opposite field, but it just opens more of the plate for me so I’m able to cover more pitches.”
Over his last 10 games, Elmore is hitting .368 with six doubles a homer and seven runs batted in. For the season, he carries a .387/.415/.547 line with nine doubles, a home run and 14 RBIs, which ranks second on the team.
“I’m seeing the ball well,” he said. “I stuck with (the swing changes) and it’s paying dividends.”
The swing correction could become a last-hope effort for Elmore, who was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Pirates during spring training this year. The veteran was originally drafted back in 2008 in the 34th round by Arizona and he’s bounced around the minors and spent brief stints with five different teams in the majors.
He knows it could be more or never, he said.
“I had a decent year last year in Charlotte and hit around .300 but no call-up,” he said.
His average settled at .289 by season’s end last year over 100 games, but he hit just one home run and drove in only 27 runs. He had just 18 doubles and added a triple.
Elmore’s never hit more than five home runs in a season in the minors, and that came in 2013. That same year, he hit two long balls in the majors with Houston. Since, he’s hit no more than three in a season.
“I knew that for me to really stand out, I would have to hit with a little more power (this year),” he said. “Keep the defense solid, of course, but contribute more a little on the offensive side. That’s been my focus this year. I think that’s what it’s gonna take (to make it back to the majors) — being a more impactful player.”
He does add value in his defense, though, as he’s able to play every position on the field. He did just that during one season in 2015. He even pitched in a game after catching for four innings.
That, he said, helps him stay on a Triple A roster while he irons his new power swing out.
“One of the biggest reasons I'm still playing baseball is being versatile and giving coaches flexibility,” he admitted. “When you get older, you lose a lot of value quick because of young prospects or whatever the case. You lose value if you’re not a starter. But every organization is gonna have a couple guys on the bench, so being able to play multiple positions helps out.”
So far this season with the Indians, he’s played second base, shortstop and left field.
Infield comes more natural to him, he admitted, but he’s comfortable anywhere on the diamond. Whatever’s going to get him innings and at-bats, he said.
He also brings a veteran presence to the team, a squad that’s seen some of baseball’s best prospects get called up this season. The young guys tend to pick his brain, he said, and he’s OK with that. He said he realizes his role and works to lead by example.
“I would say the biggest thing i bring is that I approach the day the same way every day and they can see how I go about my work,” he said. “During a game, being able to come up and ask me about certain situations. The mental aspect is probably the best thing I bring, more than the physical aspect.”
But still, there’s an itch to get back to the majors himself. He knows he’s not getting any younger. Until then, though, he’ll just keep playing the game.
“There are aspects that are good and bad but there’s certainly more good than bad. I'm still doing it and loving it,” he said. “Whether I go back to the same team for five straight years or switch teams every year, I end up settling in. It’s still fun and still a game and it’s still enjoyable to go to the park every day. Until that stops or they tell me I'm not good enough to play anymore, I’ll keep playing.”
TRIBE'S TOP HITTERS
Here's the Indians' top hitters over the last week. Sample sizes continue to shrink as players keep getting called up, so now's a good time to showcase some new guys:
Nick Franklin, INF - 5-for-12 (.417), 2 home runs, four RBIs, five walks
Steve Baron, C - 5-for-9 (.555), two doubles, one home run, three RBIs
Will Craig, 1B - 8-for-21 (.380), one home run, four RBIs
TRIBE'S TOP PITCHERS
Top starting performance: Mitch Keller vs. Charlotte on April 27. Keller fanned 10 batters in the winning effort despite giving up four earned runs on eight hits. He walked just one batter. He’s 2-0 this season with a 3.60 ERA.
Top reliever: Montana DuRapau vs. Charlotte on April 28. DuRapau picked up a win in a come-from-behind effort as he threw two scoreless innings to end the game Sunday, striking out three in the process. He threw five scoreless innings without allowing a single hit this week since returning from extended spring training. He struck out eight.
THE ROSTER MOVES/INJURY UPDATE
Here’s the roster moves over the last week:
4/22: OF Gregory Polanco ends rehab assignment in Indianapolis, reinstated from 10-day IL by Pittsburgh.
4/23: INF Kevin Newman begins rehab assignment in Indianapolis.
INF Nick Franklin transferred from High-A Bradenton to Indianapolis.
RHP Brandon Maurer placed on 7-day DL (R knee inflammation), retro to April 21.
RHP Montana DuRapau transferred from extended spring training to Indianapolis.
4/27: C Jacob Stallings begins rehab assignment in Indianapolis.
4/28: RHP JT Brubaker placed on 7-day IL (right forearm strain) in Indianapolis.
RHP Dario Agrazal transferred from Double-A Altoona to Indianapolis.
THE RESULTS/SCHEDULE
The Indians went 2-4 over the last seven days, but have won their last two coming into tonight's series opener with Columbus at home. The Tribe has been outscored, 40-36, and three of their last six games have been decided by a single run.
After a three-game set with Columbus, Indianapolis welcomes Louisville for a four-game series.
INDY FUN THING
The Indians have rolled out their Circle City Nights uniforms, and they're pretty snazzy:
We love you, Indy.
?: https://t.co/P4xygLRK8p#RollTribe | #LoveIndy pic.twitter.com/BdPGhlyfld
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) April 25, 2019
