The Korea Herald

지나쌤

Choo out of Indians lineup

By Korea Herald

Published : April 26, 2012 - 17:50

    • Link copied

CLEVELAND (AP) ― Choo Shin-soo is out of the lineup for Cleveland’s game against Kansas City with an injury to his left hamstring.

Manager Manny Acta said there’s no timetable for Choo’s return, but he doesn’t expect Cleveland’s right fielder will go on the disabled list.

“Our medical staff feels that it’s a mild type thing,” Acta said. “He showed up today feeling a lot better.”

The outfielder was replaced by a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s game. Manager Manny Acta said after the game that Choo had tightness in the hamstring.

Aaron Cunningham will start in right field and bat ninth. Carlos Santana will hit in the third spot in the batting order normally occupied by Choo.
Cleveland Indians Choo Shin-soo (Penta Press-Yonhap News) Cleveland Indians Choo Shin-soo (Penta Press-Yonhap News)

Choo, who is coming off an injury-plagued season in 2011, is batting .237 with no homers and nine RBIs in 15 games.

“If it was up to him, he probably would have stayed out there,” Acta said.

The Indians had won eight of 11 going into Wednesday.

Choo, who is coming off an injury-plagued season in 2011, is batting .237 with no homers and nine RBIs in 15 games. After batting .300 or better for three straight seasons, Choo was limited to 85 games last season. He broke his left thumb after being hit by a pitch in June and pulled a rib cage muscle twice in September. Choo batted .259 with eight homers and 39 RBIs.

Aaron Cunningham started in right field and batted ninth Wednesday. Carlos Santana hit in the third spot in the batting order normally occupied by Choo.

Acta said Choo’s injury will not affect the timetable for outfielder Johnny Damon to join the Indians. Damon signed a minor league contract last week and is getting himself into playing shape at the Indians’ spring training complex in Goodyear, Arizona. The 38-year-old outfielder is expected to join the Indians in early May.

“We’re going to make sure Johnny’s right physically,” Acta said.

Michael Brantley returned to the lineup after not starting Tuesday. He jammed his right wrist while sliding during Cleveland’s recent road trip. The Indians were off Monday and Acta wanted to give Brantley, who had surgery to remove the hamate bone from his right hand in August, an extra day without swinging the bat. Brantley was a defensive replacement in the eighth inning.

Grady Sizemore, who had back surgery on March 1, is expected to begin baseball activities this week. The Indians said at the time of the surgery that Sizemore would miss eight to 12 weeks, the latest medical setback for the three-time All-Star. Sizemore has undergone five operations the past two years and played in only 210 games the last three seasons because of injuries. He was injured while fielding ground balls early in spring training.