Oscar Mercado optioned to Lake County

Cleveland Indians outfielder Oscar Mercado has been optioned to the alternate training site in Eastlake. No corresponding move has been announced.

Mercado entered the season as the Cleveland Indians’ starting center fielder but has struggled at the plate through the first 22 games, slashing .111/.167/.111 with -26 wRC+. This is after a rookie season in which he boasted a .269/.318/.443 slash line and contributed 95 wRC+ to the Tribe lineup, usurping Leonys Martin’s spot in center. The writing has been on the wall in recent weeks for Mercado, earning only two starts in the Indians’ last three series.

He was 0-for-3 in both starts.

Expect to see more of Delino DeShields and Bradley Zimmer in center field.