From the Collection: Lonnie Chisenhall, 3b, Cleveland Guardians
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Cleveland struggles to consistently develop major league hitters, and it seems like a curse rather than an organizational issue. I have no idea what caused it, but here we are. See: Lonnie Chisenhall.
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Lonnie Chisenhall was a good hitter. He was the 29th overall pick of the 2008 draft. While he was moving up through the Guardians system, every report raved about his smooth left-handed swing. He didn’t profile as your prototypical hot-corner power-hitter, but his floor was still a well-above average regular with the potential to develop into a perennial All-Star.
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But Chisenhall simply never developed. He made the majors in 2011, but he struggled, striking out too much and walking too little. But gosh, there were moments where you could see the potential.
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On June 9, 2014, Chisenhall went 5-for-5, drove in 9 RBIs, and had 3 home runs in a game against the Texas Rangers. It was, arguably, the greatest individual hitting performances in the game’s history to that point.
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Chisenall was struggled so badly that, in 2014, Cleveland decided to transition catcher Carlos Santana to third base, and move Chisenhall to the outfield. Chisenhall, even if he could not hit, had the potential to be a plus-defensive outfielder.
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What is really frustrating is that in 2016, at the age of 27, Chisenall started hitting more consistently. But that is right about the time his calves started blowing out any time he tried to move at anything more than a trot. He only played in roughly 100 games combined in 2017-2018. Cleveland let him walk as a free agent.