25-year old righty swinging Matt LaPorta will battle 22-year old lefty swinging Michael Brantley this spring for the starting LF job in 2010. LaPorta probably has a slight edge after getting bumped off first base with the signing of Russell Branyan a couple of weeks ago. He played in 52 games for the Indians last season in which he was 46 of 181 (.254 avg, .750 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 7 homers, 21 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He also played in 93 games in AAA-ball for the Indians last season in which he was 101 of 338 (.299 avg, .917 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 17 homers and 60 RBIs. LaPorta played in 29 games in LF for the Indians last season in which he made 1 error while showing slightly above average range. LaPorta also has a decent throwing arm as he had 2 assists while playing LF last season for the Tribe.

Before the Indians signed Russell Branyan it appeared that 22-year old lefty swinging Michael Brantley would be the starting LF in 2010 for the Indians and he still can be with a strong spring. Brantley played in 28 games for the Indians last season and he was 35 of 112 (.313 avg, .707 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 11 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Brantley also played in 116 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 122 of 457 (.267 avg, .711 OPS) with 80 runs scored, 6 homers, 37 RBIs and 46 stolen bases. Brantley didn’t make any errors in 8 games in LF for the Indians last season while showing average range.

30-year old righty swinging Shelley Duncan could be a darkhorse for P.T. in LF for the Indians at some point in 2010. Duncan played in 11 games for the Yankees last season and he was 3 of 15 (.200 avg, .400 OPS) with 1 run scored and 1 RBI. Duncan also played in 123 games in AAA-ball last season in which he was 125 of 452 (.277 avg, .916 OPS) with 85 runs scored, 30 homers, 99 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Duncan is a slightly below average defender in LF.

26-year old switch hitting Trevor Crowe could also win a job for the Indians in 2010. He can play all three outfield spots pretty well which will help his chances of going north with the Indians this April. Crowe played in 32 games in LF for the Indians last season and he made 2 errros while showing slightly above average range. He also had 4 assists from LF showing a very strong arm there.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE LF IN 2010: C