GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Manager Eric Wedge still stops short of saying David Dellucci's spot on the Indians' roster is assured, even though Dellucci is owed $4 million this season.

While it is not likely that the Tribe would cut Dellucci before Opening Day, Wedge has made it clear he wants to see progress from the veteran outfielder, whose tenure with the Tribe has thus far been a disappointment.

"I still want to see David and how far along he's able to come this spring," Wedge said. "One thing I have seen is a little more bat speed and the ball coming off his bat better. We still have to get him some more reps and see what he can potentially do for us."

Dellucci's spring got off to a slow start, as he was a week behind his teammates with an injury suffered when he accidentally slammed the tailgate of his truck on his left thumb. He also missed a day with pink eye.

But Dellucci has had some positives on the field. He hit his second homer Thursday against the Brewers and is batting .263 with five RBIs and a pair of walks in 19 at-bats.

"I think I'm moving right along with how the thumb's feeling and how I'm feeling and how quickly I've been able to get into game shape," Dellucci said. "I just try to keep getting better every day. This camp has been a camp that has allowed guys to get in a groove pretty quickly. So things are going well."

Unless outfield prospect Trevor Crowe bumps him off the roster -- a scenario that, again, appears unlikely -- Dellucci will go into the season as the Tribe's fourth outfielder. Ben Francisco will start in left, and Shin-Soo Choo will start in right, with Grady Sizemore in center. Couple that with infielders Mark DeRosa and Jamey Carroll -- and potentially Josh Barfield and Ryan Garko -- figuring into the outfield mix, and Dellucci's playing time will get squeezed.

But Wedge knows the reserve situation in the outfield could be important this season.

"I'm still very aware of Francisco and Choo and their youth and the fact that it's still early in their career and there's going to be adjustments made to them," Wedge said. "I want to protect them."

The 35-year-old Dellucci will only offer protection if he can improve on an 2008 season in which he batted .238 with 11 homers and 47 RBIs in 113 games.

"I know what I have to do," Dellucci said. "I'm doing my best to get prepared for the season and get back to doing what I know I'm capable of doing."