Cord

Phelps

Phelps failed to impress in his first taste of the majors last year, batting just .155/.241/.254 with one homer over 80 plate appearances. Still, the 25-year-old has solid plate discipline and can play multiple positions, so he might have a future as a utility player.

Phelps, 25, batted .276/.368/.451 with 16 home runs, 62 RBI and an .820 OPS in 135 games at the Triple-A level this year. He’ll likely serve as a backup middle infielder down the stretch, which figures to be his role in the long-term.

His towering drive off Will Smith in the fifth inning got the Indians on the board, tying the game at 2-2. Phelps has seen very limited duty this season, going 2-for-28 (.111) with a homer and three RBI. With Jason Kipnis creating a roadblock at the second base position, it appears unlikely that Phelps will make major contributions in the 2013 season either.

Phelps will give the Indians some infield depth while Nick Swisher spends a few days with his wife and new baby daughter. Phelps was batting .233/.318/.431 with five homers and 19 RBI in 30 games at Triple-A.

Phelps didn’t see an at-bat during the few days he was with the big club. With Nick Swisher back from paternity leave, he heads back to the minors.

The Tribe likes Phelps’ bat, so they’re trying to make him more versatile in preparation for a possible bench spot. Traditionally a second baseman, Phelps belted his second homer over the spring Wednesday and is hitting .333.

Phelps, 26, batted .212 (7-for-33) with one home run in 14 games this spring. He’ll serve as infield depth in the minors.

Phelps lasted just four days during his brief call up. The Indians needed to clear a spot on their active roster with Scott Kazmir returning from the disabled list.

Phelps, 26, owns a .173/.239/.269 batting line over his first 114 plate appearances in the majors. He’ll function as infield depth.

Kipnis hasn’t played since last Friday due to left elbow soreness. He’s scheduled to take batting practice Thursday and should return to the lineup Friday if all goes well. Cord Phelps will fill in at second base again Thursday.