CLEVELAND: When the Indians eventually activate outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall from the disabled list, they need him ready to play every day.
Chisenhall said at the end of spring training that he had already been pain free for a couple of days. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left wrist impingement, though it might have been as much about Chisenhall needing to make up for lost time as he dealt with shoulder and wrist issues.
He was eligible to come off the DL earlier this week but is still racking up at-bats in rehab assignments for Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Akron. The Indians currently have the outfield covered, so once Chisenhall is activated, they need him available every day instead of easing him back into things because they will be losing a current member on the 25-man roster.
Between Rajai Davis, Marlon Byrd, Tyler Naquin and Collin Cowgill, the Indians have four outfielders and have been able to play utility man Jose Ramirez in left field as a fifth. It has allowed the Indians to carry a normal bullpen plus Trevor Bauer, which has kept Cody Anderson in the starting rotation.
“We’ve actually talked to him about that a little bit,” Indians manager Terry Francona said of Chisenhall. “He thinks he’s pretty close to being ready. I kind of told him that before he went out, I was like, ‘Not trying to be harsh or critical, but when you come back, you’re taking somebody’s job. And you need to be ready.’ It seemed like he was kind of fighting uphill a little bit this spring. So the hope is that he can use these at-bats to get ready, so that when he does join us, he’s able to do what he can do and help us win.”
Once Chisenhall does return, the Indians could make a couple of different moves. The more likely option could be that Cowgill, who has an option remaining, goes down to Triple-A and Ramirez continues to act as a fifth outfielder that the team likes to put into the lineup. The Indians could also send Anderson back to Triple-A and insert Bauer into the rotation again or make a move in the bullpen.
Hunter rehabbing
The Indians are also awaiting relief pitcher Tommy Hunter’s return from the disabled list as he rehabs from offseason core muscle surgery. A hard-throwing former closer who signed a one-year, $2 million deal this winter, Hunter will have a spot reserved in the bullpen when he does return.
Hunter has appeared in a couple of rehab appearances and the reports have been positive.
“The velocity is good,” Francona said. “I still think, again, he’s never going to be confused for a touch and feel guy, but the more he pitches, the better he’s going to command and things like that. I think he’ll come quick.”
Nice response
Third baseman Juan Uribe didn’t have the start to the season the Indians envisioned. He was 1-for-19 (.053 batting average) entering Friday night’s game against the Mets. Francona said before the game that he wasn’t overly concerned.
Uribe currently has a hard-hit percentage, per FanGraphs, of 33.3 percent, which is fourth on the team and ahead of Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor and Carlos Santana.
“I think the last couple games he hasn’t swung the bat great, but the first five games, they have one stat where it’s hard-hit outs or something, and I think he led baseball,” Francona said. “He hit some balls to center field where — three or four before we left, in the cold — that he hit right on the screws. Small sample size. Those things will even out.”
Uribe proceeded to go 3-for-4 with a walk in Friday’s 6-5 loss, raising his average to .174.