When last season opened, the Indians could have envisioned receiving bullpen contributions from a number of minor leaguers, including prized prospect Adam Miller.
Jensen Lewis wasn’t one of them.
A year removed from his first full professional season, Lewis, a 23-year-old right-hander with ties to Medina, began 2007 at Double-A Akron and off the Indians’ radar, with Miller and plenty of others ahead of him in the relief-pitching hierarchy.
But thanks to talent and a fearless approach, he finished it in the big leagues as a key contributor in a division champion bullpen.
"My year felt storybook, like it wasn’t real," said Lewis, who spent the last two months of the regular season in Cleveland, where as a late-inning reliever who had been a starter since his college days at Vanderbilt University, he posted a 2.15 ERA in 26 games (29 1/3 innings). "I guess I should have had the jitters. The food’s a little better (in the major leagues)."
That intrepid attitude served Lewis well after he was promoted in mid-July and found himself pitching in key situations during a pennant race with Detroit. Instead of buckling under the pressure, he got better.
Lewis’ ERA from Aug. 4 through the end of the season was a sparkling 1.31 (three earned runs over 20 2/3 innings). He allowed just one earned run in September with 15 strikeouts in 13 innings — none over his final eight appearances.
Needless to say, the Ohioan was not in awe of the big league lights.
"A lot of it has to do with preparation," said Lewis, who was born in Cincinnati, but lived briefly in Medina as a teenager, with family still residing in the city. "You come in every day and take in everything you need to. The game should be the fun part.
"Other guys really helped me out. We are in the same bunker together. We look out for each other and help each other out. It was 25 guys who didn’t care about anything except winning."
Lewis’ regular-season performance assured him of a spot on the roster for the playoffs, where he soaked up more valuable experience and confidence.
He didn’t allow a run in two appearances — four strikeouts in two innings — during Cleveland’s Division Series victory over the Yankees, but was touched up for four runs in five games of the ALCS loss to Boston.
Lewis’ postseason baptism also included a lasting impression of fabled Yankee Stadium, which will be replaced after this season.
"You’ve got 60,000 people there who don’t like you," he said. "The bullpen in Yankee Stadium is not a safe place to be."
Winter Haven, Fla., however, is a secure spot this spring for Lewis. He arrived as one of six relievers assured of seats in a Cleveland bullpen that is once again expected to be strong, but with the same attitude he brought last year.
"I’m going to approach it as trying to earn a job," said Lewis, who hasn’t allowed a run and just one hit through three exhibition appearances. "Last year was last year. You take the experiences with you. At the same time, everybody starts over.
"The biggest thing is to stay healthy. That’s a goal for every reliever every year, and being consistent. I had a good three months last year. This year, I want to do it for a full season."
There are also the expectations in 2008 that weren’t present last March.
"The guys we do have coming back need to understand they have to be as good, or better," said Indians manager Eric Wedge.
One thing Lewis won’t be is in awe. He’ll bring the same aggressive style that spurred on his rapid ascension to the majors. And if he gets a bit demonstrative on the mound at times, as he did last season, Lewis cites age as an acceptable excuse.
"I guess you could say I’m a young kid," he said. "I’m excited a lot. You try to use it to your advantage to get guys out and hope you don’t end up on SportsCenter for doing something weird."

Roundin’ third

Lewis was one of six signed to one-year contracts Friday, as the Indians agreed to terms with the remainder of non-arbitration eligible players on their 40-man roster. The others were backup catcher Kelly Shoppach, outfielders Shin-Soo Choo and Ben Francisco and relievers Tom Mastny and Juan Lara.
• The Indians are back at Chain of Lakes Park again today (1:05), hosting the Phillies. Fausto Carmona (0-1, 10.80) will make his second exhibition start, opposing Jamie Moyer (1-0, 0.00). WMMS 100.7-FM will broadcast the game live, while SportsTime Ohio provides a delayed telecast at 10 p.m.  
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

METS (6-3) 8, INDIANS (3-5-1) 6

Turning point

At Chain of Lakes Park, the Mets trailed 6-5 before rallying for three runs in the seventh inning off Indians reliever Jorge Julio.  

Hits

• Travis Hafner got his first two hits of the spring, both of them doubles, driving in half of Cleveland’s runs.
• First baseman Ryan Garko committed an error, but had two singles in his only two official at-bats.
• Relievers Masa Kobayashi and Tom Mastny produced two of the few positive pitching performances, Kobayashi working one scoreless inning, while Mastny struck out four in two perfect ones.

Misses

• Cliff Lee allowed two runs on three hits and two walks and failed to make it out of the first inning in his first exhibition start.
• Relievers Joe Borowski and Rafael Betancourt served up home runs in one inning of work apiece.
• Shortstop Jhonny Peralta had a hit but struck out in his other three trips to the plate.

Prospect punch

• Middle infielder Danny Sandoval continues to impress, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI to raise his exhibition average to .353 (6-for-17).

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