MESA, Ariz. — The Indians already know Carlos Santana will be their starting catcher when the season opens April 1 against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field.

Who will back him up is still in doubt and most likely will remain that way until the final days of camp.

“That one is probably going to go to the last week,” said Indians manager Manny Acta of the competition between Lou Marson, Luke Carlin and Paul Phillips.

Marson, who was Cleveland’s starter behind the plate last year prior to the arrival of Santana, would appear to be the favorite. But the thought is that Marson, 24, will benefit from regular at-bats at Triple-A Columbus.

Acta qualified that a bit Thursday, saying those at-bats might be available at the big league level.

“Carlos (Santana) is going to be playing first base and DH-ing on occasion,” he said. “If we have enough at-bats and if he proves he is the guy, that could make us change our mind.”

Marson acquitted himself well behind the plate in 87 games for the Indians last year. He led the American League in throwing out runners attempting to steal with a 38.3 percentage (26-of-77).

It was at the plate where Marson encountered problems, batting just .195 with three home runs and 22 RBIs. Based largely on his offensive inefficiency, he was sent down and didn’t fare much better at Columbus, where he batted just .202 with four homers and 14 RBIs in 37 games.

Marson hadn’t been an offensive liability until last year. He owns a career .269 batting average in the minors, winning the Phillies’ minor league player of the year award in 2008 after batting .314 with five homers and 46 RBIs for Double-A Reading.

“This guy has hit before,” Acta said. “He had a tough year last year but it’s not easy to hit up here. He was not the player of the year in Double-A because he could catch and throw.

“We know he has more in him than we saw last year.”

Though he is batting just .182 (2-for-11) with one RBI in six exhibition games, Acta said he has already seen positive strides from Marson this spring.

“He’s swung the bat better than last year,” Acta said. “He’s driving the ball better. You can see it even in the cages.”

If the Indians decide to start Marson in Columbus, it would be a mild surprise if Carlin didn’t get the nod to back up Santana.

Carlin, 30, acquired last offseason in a trade with the Pirates, spent a brief stint in Cleveland last year, hitting .357 (5-for-14) with two homers and three RBIs in six games.

Phillips, 33, is a three-year big league veteran that the Indians signed to a minor league free agent contract this offseason. A career .273 hitter in the minors, Phillips batted .217 (5-for-23) in 12 games for the Rockies in 2010.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

ELYRIA — He goes by Bud.

Beyond that, details are a little fuzzy, according to Metro Parks workers.

They first started seeing the gray-bearded gentleman nearly a year ago when he came to use the Bridgeway trail. He walked, they said, and stretched on the trail’s benches.

Then he found a greater calling — clearing trash from not just the trail, but the hillsides that surround it.

More photos below.

“No words can explain” the difference he makes, according to Paul Hruby Jr., operations supervisor and chief ranger. “These are areas we could never get to. We just don’t have the manpower.”

Still, Bud remains quite a mystery.

“Unless you go looking for him, he’s gone,” according to Tim Perkins, a park maintenance worker.

Bud, who the Metro Parks workers estimate is in his late 50s or early 60s, shows up every day, rain or shine about 8 or 8:30 a.m. and works tirelessly for two to three hours. Some of the trash he clears was dumped over the hill by residents in South Lorain, other trash blows from their yards or washes down the river. Bud scales the hills and goes places court-ordered community service workers refuse to go, they said.

“Even a nasty day like today, he was out,” Hruby said.

Bud bags up and carries out what he can, Hruby said. The rest he leaves in bags alongside the trail, where park maintenance workers can easily retrieve it.

And then there’s his pile.

Workers estimate it’s about six feet tall, 10 feet wide and nearly 30 feet long, and it’s stacked neatly with care. It contains everything from about 50 tires, to multiple shopping carts, discarded toys — essentially, all the trash Bud manages to drag out of the woods but can’t haul out of the park.

Around Christmastime, workers started to figure out who Bud was. Hruby said he left his business card on Bud’s car once he figured out what he drove.

“He thought he was in trouble, but I just wanted to thank him,” Hruby said. “I even offered him a job, but he wasn’t interested. He said he was trying to make a difference.”

They think Bud might be a Ford autoworker and might live on or off of Abbe Road.

“He doesn’t want a job, he doesn’t want anything, he’s not looking for recognition,” said Mike Goodrich, Metro Parks captain and ranger specialist. “He just does it because he loves it.”

While park workers make plans to truck Bud’s large pile out of the woods near the trail, they’re just grateful for the unexpected help he provides.

“With trash it’s a constant battle,” Hruby said. “We have to mow the grass and maintain the trash (along the trail). We just don’t have the manpower. We’re blessed to have him.”

“It’s kind of nice to know there are still a few people in the world like that,” Perkins added.

Contact Rona Proudfoot at 329-7124 or rproudfoot@chroniclet.com.

Chris Assenheimer

The Chronicle-Telegram

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Right-hander Carlos Carrasco returned to the mound Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits in three innings of a 9-2 loss to the split-squad Padres at Goodyear Ballpark.

Carrasco, who is slated to begin the season as Cleveland’s fourth starter, made one exhibition appearance, but his second was delayed when he left the team for the birth of his daughter Camilia on Friday in Clearwater, Fla.

Both of Carrasco’s runs came on back-to-back home runs from Aaron Cunningham and Anthony Rizzo in the second inning. He struck out three and didn’t walk a batter.

“Carrasco threw some good breaking balls,” said Indians manager Manny Acta. “He gave up the two solo home runs, but overall, I was happy with his performance.”

Saying good-bye

Indians fans will get an opportunity to celebrate the legendary life of Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller during a public memorial service, March 31 (11 a.m.), at Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights.

Feller died Dec. 10 at the age of 92.

To honor his memory, the Indians will wear a patch of Feller’s No. 19 on their uniforms this season.

Donald’s day

Acta said third baseman Jason Donald (bruised hand) would return to the lineup today.

Donald said he had a positive batting practice session Wednesday and is ready to play. He has been sidelined since being hit by a pitch Saturday against the White Sox.

Bring it on

With a little over three weeks until opening day, closer Chris Perez appears ready to start the season.

Perez tweeted “23 days until opening day and the arm, mind, and rage are ready.”

Perez, 25, will enter the season as a closer for the first time in his career after ranking second among American League relievers last year with a 1.71 ERA in 63 appearances.

Spring flings

Entering Wednesday, the Indians led the AL with an on-base percentage of .386 and a total of 58 walks. … Cleveland ranked fourth in the AL with a team batting average of .291. … Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall led the league with a .550 batting average, 11 hits and a .609 on-base percentage and ranked second in slugging percentage (1.050) and total bases (21). … Outfielder Ezequiel Carrera ranked second with seven RBIs. … Indians pitchers, who allowed 32 runs over their last two exhibition games, ranked 14th in the AL with a 5.66 ERA.

Roundin’ third

Acta said the Indians’ first round of cuts would come between Saturday-Monday. … Today, 3:05, vs. Cubs (no television or radio) at Mesa’s Hohokam Park. Justin Masterson (0-1, 5.40 ERA) starts for the Indians against RHP Randy Wells (1-0, 0.00).

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

Chris Assenheimer

The Chronicle-Telegram

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Carlos Santana overcame knee surgery to make it back for the first exhibition game. His next challenge is learning a new position.

Santana, the Indians’ promising young catcher, made his spring debut at first base Wednesday in a 9-2 loss to the split-squad Padres at Goodyear Ballpark.

As the Indians search for ways to keep Santana’s bat in the lineup and to alleviate some of the rigors of catching on a fulltime basis, it’s a spot he is expected to occupy at various times during the regular season.

“He will play first base during the season,” Manny Acta said emphatically.

Acta said Santana, who hit .260 with six home runs and 22 RBIs in 46 games of his debut last season before sustaining a season-ending injury, will play at least three games at first base this spring.

Prior to the first one Wednesday, Santana, 25, wasn’t sure how he would feel in his new surroundings.

“I don’t know now,” he said. “After the game I can talk to you.”

If there was trepidation, it wasn’t evident on the field, where Santana played six innings at first base without incident. He had nine total chances, three on ground balls to him. He went 1-for-2 at the plate with a double and a run.

“He looked good, man,” Acta said. “It’s only a game but he looked comfortable and made some good plays. I felt like he did very well for just a game.”

Santana has made his living as a catcher but he did begin his career as a third baseman in the Dodgers organization. He thinks his time at third base will assist him in his conversion across the diamond.

“I played third base. I’ll be fine,” said Santana, who is batting .250 (3-for-12) in six exhibition games, and has had no setbacks with his left knee. “It makes me remember three years ago when I played third base.”

To help with the relocation project, the Indians have enlisted special advisor and former manager, Mike Hargrove, as well as special assistant to baseball operations and former Cleveland player, Eduardo Perez, to work with Santana this spring. Both spent the majority of their big league careers at first base.

Perez likes what he has seen from Santana thus far.

“I like his footwork and he’s got good instincts,” Perez said. “He’s an athlete. He’s gifted. He can play any position.

“It’s a great option to have. He’s always focused. He knows what he has to do.”

What Santana has to do is learn a new position in just his second year on the big league level without a full season under his belt. And he has to learn it well enough that he is not a defensive liability.

Despite favoring catching, it’s a challenge the Dominican Republic native seems open to undertaking.

“I love to catch, but if the manager puts me at first base, I will play there,” Santana said. “I’ll play anywhere to keep me in the lineup. I like to play anywhere.”

The Indians are hoping Santana still feels the same way at the end of spring training.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.