Cleveland Indians' Lonnie Chisenhall has clear path to be team's starting third baseman

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Tribe third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall fields a ground ball during practice Tuesday in Goodyear, Ariz.

(Photo by Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Last season still hasn't left Lonnie Chisenhall. It was wrapped around his right wrist as he walked through the Indians' clubhouse earlier this week.

Chisenhall suffered a broken bone in his right arm May 29 when he was hit by a Troy Patton pitch at Camden Yards. The break required surgery and the insertion of assorted metal hardware to keep the bone in place.

On Tuesday, Chisenhall was being fitted for a pad to protect the offended area from any such recurrence. The pad was being fitted to his arm while held in place with a lot of white tape.

While that part of the 2012 season will stay with Chisenhall, something else will not. Jack Hannahan, who won the third-base job from him the past two springs, is no longer an Indian after signing a two-year deal this winter with Cincinnati. Hannahan isn't that far away since the Indians and Reds share the same spring-training complex, but for Chisenhall, he might as well be on the dark side of the moon.

"This is a little more relaxing," said Chisenhall. "I'm not really looking over my shoulder, but I still have to get the work done, play the game hard and have quality at-bats."

The Indians drafted Chisenhall with their first pick in 2008. He is a left-handed hitter with the potential for power. The Indians have seen brief samples of that power over parts of the past two seasons, but with a starting outfield that might not hit 30 homers combined, they need to see more.

"He's got a quick bat . . . an extremely quick bat," said manager Terry Francona. "Guys who find a way of surviving as everyday players do it by hitting off-speed or certain other kind of pitches. Lonnie, to me, looks like he can handle anybody's fastball. That's a really good thing."

While some may question giving Chisenhall a clear path to the job at third -- his closest rival is Mike Aviles -- they had to be impressed by the way he recovered from last year's broken ulna bone.

Chisenhall spent more than two months on the disabled list before rejoining the lineup Sept. 9.

He hit .257 (18-for-70) with five doubles, three homers and 13 RBI in 19 games before the season ended.

"What he did last season at the end of the year was really good to see," said first base coach Mike Sarbaugh. "I could see the development from when he started the season at Triple-A. His strike zone discipline really improved. That will be key for him to build off coming into this year."

Sarbaugh was Chisenhall's manager the past two seasons at Class AAA Columbus. Sarbaugh joined the Indians in September and became bench coach for acting manager Sandy Alomar when Manny Acta was fired. After the season Francona hired Sarbaugh as his first base and infield coach.

Chisenhall, 24, describes himself as a "swing first, ask questions later" hitter.

"I need to become a little more selective," he said. "I go up there and like to make things happen. As I've gotten older, I've changed. I need to do certain things like handle the bat. I'll be hitting lower in the order so I'll have to hit behind guys or bunt or do whatever is asked of me to win."

Hitting lefties will be part of that maturation process. He had only 38 at-bats against them last year, hitting .184. In 2011, Chisenhall hit .260 (13-for-50) with five homers and 11 RBI against lefties.

"A lefty who says he likes facing lefties probably isn't telling the truth," said Chisenhall. "I haven't played against many over the last two years. This year I'm looking forward to playing against them and showing them what I've got."

If that doesn't work, Francona has the option of using the right-handed hitting Aviles against certain lefties.

Defensively, Chisenhall says he's comfortable at third. Earlier this week, Francona was hitting the converted shortstop grounders and a couple got past him on the backhand side. "I think I found something," shouted Francona, but Chisenhall quickly pounced on the next grounder hit in the same place.

Asked if he considered himself a third baseman or a shortstop that converted to third, Chisenhall said: "I consider myself a lot of things. I think I can play a lot of positions. I like third base. I consider it a challenge."

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