Has a dark horse emerged?

Earlier this spring, one of the early-morning hitting groups in Goodyear started swinging for the fences towards the end of their round.

Yandy Diaz, Gio Urshela and Erik Kratz were sending balls high off the backdrop in straightaway center, deep over the left-center wall, flirting with windshields in the players’ lot, and bouncing others off the roof of a building over the left-field wall.

Richie Shaffer launched one straight out of The Natural. It sailed high over left-center, arcing into the bright blue Arizona sky. For a second, I lost sight of the baseball. But then, I heard the clank. The baseball struck one of the light towers, ricocheting away about mid-way up the silver beam.

Shaffer has been one of those under-the-radar spring invitees, but he has been impressing more and more as the preseason has worn on. As of this writing, he actually leads Cleveland in games played this spring with 20. In those games, he’s slashing .277/.314/.617.

Shaffer added another home run — his fourth in Cactus League play — on Saturday.

With Jason Kipnis (right shoulder) possibly missing Opening Day, and Michael Brantley (right biceps surgery in August) potentially having his comeback extend into April, Cleveland is examining its options for the bench.

“Sometimes, I think you go out looking,” Indians manager Terry Francona said, “and you have the guy right in front of you.”

Now, to be clear, that quote from Francona was about second base, where Erik Gonzalez, Michael Martinez and Ronny Rodriguez are possibilities. But, when filling out his bench, there are other scenarios to explore, too. Lately, Cleveland has been moving Shaffer around, giving him playing time mostly at third (10 games) and in left field (five), but also at first (two) and in right (one).

“There’s no doubt, the moving around the field has been big,” Indians bench coach Brad Mills said. “We found out that he has played some first base, so that was big. And then, playing the corners in the outfield and the corners of the infield, definitely is huge. I think the biggest thing — the way he started camp at the plate — now he’s come on and started swinging the bat much better.”

Positionally, Shaffer offers a similar skill-set as Diaz, whose chances of being in the Opening Day mix have been downplayed by Francona. The manager has continued to cite the fact that Diaz’s defense is still viewed as a work in progress by the team. But, is there a way Shaffer might fit the roster puzzle, if Brantley and Kipnis are out for Opening Day?

Let’s say the Indians really do want to keep Jose Ramirez at third, rather than moving him to second base temporarily. In that scenario, Cleveland could carry Erik Gonzalez as the second baseman. Or, if Ramirez did move to second, Gonzalez could be used as the utility man for multiple spots. The Indians know Ramirez can handle third, short, second and even left, if needed, too.

If Cleveland was content with Ramirez and Gonzalez providing the depth around the diamond, then Shaffer could work into the mix as a backup for the infield and outfield corners. That would in all likelihood eliminate Martinez from the Opening Day roster picture.

That setup would still allow the Indians to carry an outfield consisting of Tyler Naquin, Lonnie Chisenhall Brandon Guyer, Abraham Almonte and Austin Jackson. At least, that’s the outfield group I’m projecting for Opening Day, as things currently stand.

And, if Shaffer were to be added to the roster, the Indians still have two option years on him. That means, he can be sent back to the Minors without exposing him to waivers.

Over the past three years combined between the Minors and Majors, Shaffer has posted a .777 OPS against left-handers and a .773 OPS against righties. The splits have varied some from season to season. In his brief MLB experience with Tampa Bay, he hit only .213 with a .720 OPS in 142 plate appearance. In the Minors, he’s slashed .246/.333/.437, showing an ability to draw walks and offer some pop. Add in the position versatility, and he’s an intriguing player.

Of course, intriguing 26-year-old former first-rounders can sometimes find themselves bouncing around before one team gives them a long look. This winter, the Indians were the last team in a series of transactions for Shaffer.

Nov. 11: Traded to Seattle by Tampa Bay
Dec. 14: Claimed off waivers by Philadelphia
Dec. 23: Claimed off waivers by Cincinnati
Jan. 26: Claimed off waivers by Cleveland
Jan. 30: Designated for assignment
Feb. 2: Outrighted to Triple-A, invited to Spring Training.

So far, Shaffer has been making the most of that invitation.

“The adjustments he’s been able to make at the plate have been very good,” Mills said. “It’s nice to see, and hopefully he’ll continue to show us something the rest of the spring. Anytime you can get a guy that can play those four positions — corner outfielder, corner infield — that’s pretty nice.”

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Brantley played in his second Minor League game on Saturday morning, going 0-for-3 with a walk. Click here for more on his status.

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More from Saturday…

• Kipnis and Cody Anderson (right elbow) met with Dr. Keith Meister on Friday. There was no available update on Saturday from the Indians. Expect Francona to have more on their situations, and Brantley’s next step, during Sunday’s sit-down with reporters.
• Outfielder Tyler Naquin was scratched from the lineup on Saturday due to bilateral knee soreness. Mills said the hope is that Naquin can return to the lineup as early as Sunday: “It’s just some knee soreness. He just felt and the trainers felt they didn’t want to get it all flared back up again, so where he was going to be out two, three, four games. It is better than it was last night. He went out ran, tried to do some things.”
• Naquin and former Tribe outfielder Grady Sizemore have formed a strong bond this spring.
• Righty Carlos Carrasco has resumed throwing after a bout with right elbow soreness. Barring any setbacks, his next step would be a bullpen session, which could come Sunday or Monday.
• Austin Jackson is trying to convince Cleveland that he’s healthy in his push for a roster spot.
• Did some more podcasting this week: With Cut4 and with Anthony Castrovince for MLB.com.
• Brad Zimmer — Cleveland’s №1 prospect — made a nice running catch in deep center in Saturday’s game. Said Mills: “ow about that catch he made running away? The line drive. … You get him underway, he can move. He’s really pretty going first-to-third, or home to third, or home to second.”

And, as always…

There is plenty more on Indians.com. Also, be sure you’re following me on Twitter (@MLBastian), Instagram (bastianmlb) and Facebook (JordanBastianMLB). You’ll find videos and photos on those platforms, and I’ll be doing some Facebook Live look-ins throughout the spring.

— JB