The intriguing development of the once-top prospect in the Indians system continues as we inch closer to the start of spring training. After missing September and October following an unfortunate hand injury, we were left wondering what contributions Bradley Zimmer might have made during the Indians’ short-lived postseason run.

The Indians relied on Zimmer’s ability to run and defend, mostly, but he provided more in the 2017 regular season. His speed tool is his moniker as he swiped 18 bases and saved four runs defensively while remaining errorless in 97 games in center field. He’s a player that finished with a 1.6 WAR, which is respectable for a rookie call-up. Those two traits remained consistent. As much as the Indians needed a boost from a true center fielder out in the field, Zimmer’s bat fell somewhat flat as the 2017 season progressed.

Zimmer’s calling card at the plate was finding success off of mistake pitches and those inside the zone. It might be surprising to find that most of Zimmer’s hits came off of the sinker as he hit for a .268 average on it – the second highest of any pitch he saw in 2017. He also drew the most walks (7) and struck out the least (11) when combated with a sinker – his best numbers from pitches he saw over 100 times.

But despite Zimmer finding success off of one type of breaking pitch, there were still issues with others. Zimmer hit a combined .220 (20-for-91) and struck out 41 times off of sliders and curveballs. He drew only three walks off of said pitches. After doing the math, his contact rate jumps out to about 35.0% off of those pitches.

So to keep an executive summary of these samples short-and-sweet, if the pitch is fast, Zimmer can and probably will make contact. If it’s slower and moves more, he’s probably going to miss.

Opposing pitchers began to figure the above statement into their gameplans as the 2017 season progressed. Of course, there was not much film of Zimmer from the minor leagues, so pitchers to face Zimmer in May and June were somewhat guinea pigs to a new case study – the study of Bradley Zimmer’s strengths and weaknesses at the plate.

Zimmer began the first half of his professional career on a bright note. He hit .267 with five home runs before the All-Star break and was positioned to solidify himself on the Indians’ eventual Postseason run. He was able to play center field daily and he even factored his way into the top spot in Terry Francona’s lineup.

The second half was a completely different story for Zimmer. He hit just .170 after the break and his power numbers declined with his performance before his season-ending hand injury on September 10th. Specifically, his issue of hitting breaking balls became more prevalent and pitchers exposed him for it.

Zimmer made contact on 73% of breaking pitches within the lower half and inside the strike zone in the first half of the season. That number dropped to 56% from the first game back from the All-Star break until the day his hand was broke. This is a direct correlation with Zimmer’s selectiveness at the plate as the season progressed. He swung at 72% of pitches in the same zone in the first half, and he offered at 67% of pitches in the low part of the strike zone in the second half.

So whether Zimmer’s decline plate discipline over the course of 2017 relates to how pitchers began to throw more breaking balls at him, or because he was not aggressive, is up for debate. Zimmer’s aggressiveness could be the key for a potential bounce back season in 2018. On the other hand, will Zimmer’s inability to make contact on breaking balls continue into 2018, and he becomes a new version of Tyler Naquin?

Zimmer hit .233, drew eight walks, and struck out 53 times off breaking balls in 2017. If the 2018 season is going to include a turnaround at the plate for the young outfielder, one would think that hitting the breaking ball is a start. Zimmer fares well against fastballs and he uses every bit of his 6’5" frame to generate bat speed on balls inside and up in the zone. If he can cut down his swing-and-misses on breaking balls and, in effect, generate more contact, he should find more success with getting on base in 2018.

Zimmer could project as a 1.8-2.5 WAR player based on baserunning and defense alone, two aspects of his game that carried him throughout the minor leagues. But if he wants to be a mainstay at the major league level, his performance inside the batter’s box is where he needs to improve and become more consistent.

Zimmer currently projects to hit for a .240/.316/.398 slash line with 15 home runs, 58 runs batted in, and an 88 WRC+. Steamer also believes will be a 1.6 WAR player that finished with a .158 ISO. It’s not an outlandish projection considering Zimmer’s decline in 2017, but if he can break through his troubles of making contact with breaking pitches, maybe he’ll see less of them and, in turn, produce more efficiently in 2018.

Corey Crisan is a columnist for the Cleveland Indians and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Indians Baseball Insider on Scout.com. You can listen to him on IBI’s Farm Report Podcast and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @cdcrisan.