CLEVELAND – Indians catcher Roberto Pérez was excited to get the 2020 season underway. He had just finished his first year as the team’s starting backstop and won an AL Gold Glove Award, despite battling through bone spurs in his ankle. So when he reported to Spring Training (and later Summer Camp) in 2020, he was ready to show what he could do in a healthy season.

That lasted all of one game.

On an awkward throw to first base on Opening Day last year, Pérez suffered a should strain that caused rotator cuff issues throughout the rest of the season. He missed 18 days on the injured list and couldn’t get behind the dish as frequently as he would’ve liked. But after treatment and training in the offseason, Pérez is finally ready to make 2021 his year.

“Playing through it some days I didn't feel it,” Pérez said. “Some days I woke up with a lot of pain. Especially hitting was what hurt me the most when I had to extend my arm. I couldn't really extend it. But you know, man, 2020 is in the books. I'm focusing on 2021. I just hope to be healthy and help these guys win ballgames.”

Pérez put a lot of effort into his offseason, losing 25 pounds to get himself in better shape. But there were plenty of questions surrounding the Indians’ decision to carry both Pérez and Austin Hedges on the roster. The two are very similar catchers with above-average defense and below-average bats. When the Tribe was looking to save money, it didn’t seem far-fetched to believe the team would part ways with one of the two backstops, considering Pérez’s option was $5.5 million and Hedges was slated to make $3 million (and later settled on $2.8 million) in arbitration.

While the Tribe decided to hang on to both catchers, Pérez is still set to be the regular guy behind the dish with Hedges serving as his backup.  

“I don't know that we would look to [split time],” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “I think Roberto is our catcher. We are very fortunate that we have two guys defensively who are probably as good as anybody in baseball. I don't think that's stretching the truth.

“Where their offense goes, Roberto has done it before and then he had a tough time last year. Austin's kind of a work in progress, but we've always said we value their defense first and their ability to work with a pitching staff. And we believe it. That's why we say it. They affect so many guys when they're catching behind the plate, and if they give us offense, great. We can still win as long as they're catching well.”

And with another chance to be the Indians’ everyday catcher, Pérez will have a chance to earn his third consecutive Gold Glove Award, but this time – he’s hoping – without battling an injury.

“Nothing was given to me over the last couple of years I've worked so hard to be in this position,” Pérez said. “That means that I don't take anything for granted behind the plate. If I don't do it hitting, I'm going to be back there for the guys blocking balls, throwing guys out, receiving. … I know nobody's counting on us, but we've just got to go out there and perform and prove people wrong.”

Varying game length this spring

Each team is permitted to have a 75-man player pool throughout Spring Training due to COVID-19 protocols. As Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti explained on Thursday, a team will traditionally use over 100 players in its Major League spring games to help starters ease into their workloads. Because there will be fewer players to fill spots, teams will be given some flexibility in how many innings they play throughout camp.

From the start of exhibition games through March 13, all games will be scheduled as seven-inning games, but they can also be shortened to five innings or extended to nine innings if both managers agree. After March 13, all games will be scheduled for nine innings, but can still be shortened to seven frames if both managers are on board. These decisions will need to be made by 5 p.m. ET the day before the game.

Minor League signing

The Indians signed catcher Ryan Lavarnway to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training on Friday afternoon. The 33-year-old has played in parts of nine big league seasons with the Red Sox, Orioles, Braves, A’s, Pirates, Reds and Marlins, owning a .215/.272/.344 career slash line in 156 games. He split the 2019 season with three different organizations, including playing four games for Triple-A Columbus. He’s the 16th non-roster invitee with the club and the 74th player currently allotted in the Tribe’s 2021 Spring Training player pool.