Hail Cesar: Hernandez fitting in with double-play partner Francisco Lindor, rest of Indians

CLEVELAND — The Indians' new double-play combination of shortstop Francisco Lindor and second baseman Cesar Hernandez was just beginning to get comfortable when COVID-19 caused the shutdown of spring training. The duo doesn't have a whole lot of time to get reacclimated before the regular season begins July 24, but the new guy Hernandez doesn't think it will be a problem. "I think right before our first practice, we had a conversation, 'What's your style, where do you like the ball thrown? What's your style when you come through on a double play?'" Hernandez, a native of Venezuela, said of the talk he had with Lindor, who was born in Puerto Rico. "Having that conversation allowed us to have really good communication. We had time in spring training to practice and understand each other. From there, we've had a really good connection so far. "I think the fact of being a Latin player makes it easier to communicate and get along and understand the way we play. I think we picked it up really quick in spring training. Since then, we've been in contact. It was really easy to play alongside him." The Indians brought Hernandez aboard this offseason, signing Philadelphia's starting second baseman since 2015 to a one-year free-agent contract worth $6.25 million to replace Jason Kipnis. Cleveland chose not to exercise a $16.5 million option on Kipnis, cutting ties with him after 11 years in the organization. Prior to the suspension of the exhibition season, Hernandez got a chance to introduce himself to his new teammates and manager. Since he's been back for spring training 2.0, it's been a smooth transition, according to manager Terry Francona. "He's the same guy that we saw when we left, which we really liked," Francona said of Hernandez, who hit .279 with 14 home runs and a career-high 71 RBIs in his second straight 161-game season last year. "I think we view him potentially as a guy who can hit at the top of the order — switch-hitter, plays every day, likes to play, takes a lot of pride in showing up every day and playing. He's been a real fun kid to get to know so far. He's quick to smile. He's joined right in with those other infielders and he's fit right in." Playing alongside someone like Lindor, one of the faces of the game who has an infectious smile and loads of talent, gets you comfortable real fast. "I think he's enjoying it. I think any second baseman in their right mind would enjoy working with Frankie," Francona said. "I mean, you may have one of the very best in the business. And Frankie is so quick, and I think that's the biggest thing for a second baseman, realizing just how quick his hands are. You better get your hands up in a hurry or that ball might hit you in the sternum. I don't know where the sternum is, but somewhere." In addition to replacing Lindor's double-play partner, there's a good chance Hernandez will also take the shortstop's traditional spot atop the order. Hernandez hit leadoff for the majority of his time with the Phillies. "I'm open to any position as long as I can contribute to the team," Hernandez said. "Historically, I've hit my best numbers, my best performance, when I hit leadoff, and I'm really excited to be put in that position." Hernandez, 30, isn't totally unfamiliar with his new teammates. He spent the 2018 season with Indians first baseman Carlos Santana, who signed a lucrative free-agent deal with Philadelphia after seven years in Cleveland before returning in an offseason trade a year later. "I learned a lot of things (about Santana), among them was his passion for the game," Hernandez said. "His desire to play every single game and to play 162 games if possible, those are things I've tried to learn and adjust to my game, because I want to do the same. His leadership and his passion that he brings to the game, that's something that you always want to learn and try to replicate in your game. "Having the opportunity to play before with Santana with the Phillies, he brought that to that team — that familiarity, that welcoming aspect to the infield. Being back playing with him (makes) it easy to adjust and play the best game we can." "Also, all of us being Latin players," he said of the infield that also includes Dominicans Santana and third baseman Jose Ramirez, "we can communicate and talk the same language. It makes it a lot easier to talk and be all on the same page." Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @CAwesomeheimer on Twitter.