Right-hander Adam Plutko, Cleveland Indians’ top sub, strains right forearm
Channel: √√ ‏Egyptian Academy for Martial arts
Date: 31/03/2019

Right-hander Adam Plutko, Cleveland Indians’ top sub, strains right forearm
Adam Plutko, the Tribe's top pitching reserve, will open the year on the injured list at Class AAA Columbus.

MINNEAPOLIS – The Indians’ depth is not only being tested on the infield with injuries to Francisco Lindor and Jason Kipnis, but in the starting rotation as well.

There’s nothing wrong with Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco, Mike Clevinger and Shane Bieber, but their main replacement, Adam Plutko, opened the season at Class AAA Columbus on the injured list. Plutko strained his right forearm while pitching in a minor-league game just before camp broke.He is expected to be sidelined for about three weeks.

If anything happened to the Tribe’s top five starters, Plutko would have been the first option from the minors. He made six trips between Columbus and Cleveland last year, replacing Josh Tomlin as the fifth starter for a time. Plutko went 4-5 with a 5.28 ERA in 17 games, including 12 starts, with the Tribe.

Candidates for the rotation at Columbus are Chih-Wei Hu, Cody Anderson, Jefry Rodriguez, Shao-Ching Chiang and Asher Wojciechowski. They were all in big-league camp with the Indians.

The Indians released their four full-season minor-league rosters Friday.

Noah “Bo’ Naylor, the Indians’ No. 1 pick last year, will open the year at Class A Lake County. Naylor, a catcher, hit .274 (32-for-117) with three doubles, two homers and 17 RBI for the Arizona Rookie League Indians last year after signing.

The Indians drafted Naylor, 19, out of St. Joan of Arc High School in Ontario, Canada.

Lefty Sam Hentges, who made a good showing in camp, will open the season at Class AA Akron. As will hard-throwing reliever James Karinchak and outfielder Daniel Johnson. The Indians acquired Johnson as part of the Yan Gomes deal, and he had an impressive spring showing.

Triston McKenzie, the Tribe’s top prospect, will open the season on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder. Outfielder Will Benson, the No. 1 pick in 2016, returns to Lake County. He hit 22 homers with 58 RBI, but struck out 152 times in 416 at-bats last year.

Is there a doctor in the house? The Indians are still waiting for a second opinion on Lindor’s sprained left ankle. They are consulting with Dr. Robert Anderson in Green Bay.

The Indians are trying to get an idea on how much time Lindor will need to get ready to join the club. He spent all spring rehabbing a strained right calf.

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