Indians May Be Ready to Contend in AL East

It’s been the Year of the Rookie in the American League, and the Cleveland Indians have been part of the trend.

“They’ve definitely made us a better team,” said Indian Manager Pat Corrales. “And they’re going to get better next year.”

The Indians have eight rookies, including Jay Bell who joined the team late in September, and four of them are certain to make next year’s squad.

Besides Bell, the Indians’ rookies include Cory Snyder, Andy Allanson, Dave Clark and pitchers Scott Bailes, Greg Swindell, Jose Roman and Rich Yett. Snyder, Allanson, Bailes and Swindell are expected to make the Indians next season. Clark and Yett (5-3) will get a long look, but the chances for Roman (1-2) are not good.

Snyder, who played his first major league game on June 13, is hitting .277 with 24 home runs and 69 runs batted in. He’s played right field, left field, third base and shortstop while showing off what hitting coach Bobby Bonds calls “the strongest arm since Roberto Clemente.”

“Cory has done everything I thought he would do,” Corrales said. “His home runs haven’t surprised me. He could hit 30 next year or in the very near future.”

Swindell, a left-handed pitcher, is 5-2 with a 4.02 earned run average and 46 strikeouts. He was Cleveland’s No. 1 pick in the June draft out of the University of Texas.

The Indians gave him three starts at Class A Waterloo before bring him up to the majors, although he had a disastrous major-league debut against Boston when the Red Sox beat the Indians 24-5.

“They don’t come along like him very often,” Corrales said. “He’s probably more nervous in the clubhouse than he is on the field. The other buys pick on him (about his weight). But on the mound, he knows what he can do.”

Bailes made the club out of spring training. He made 51 relief appearances before the Indians gave him a start on Aug. 10. Bailes is 10-10 with seven saves and a 4.95 ERA.