CLEVELAND (AP) - Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis is out indefinitely after being placed on the disabled list again with a strained right hamstring.
Kipnis returned recently after missing a month, but was removed from Tuesday night’s game against Boston. He grounded out in the first inning and was replaced by a pinch hitter in the third.
Kipnis underwent an MRI, which showed he aggravated the injury.
“There’s really no timetable,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “It’s going to be on how he feels. Rather than try to milk it for three or four days we felt like, let’s get him healthy.”
Kipnis joins a list of injured Indians players that seems to grow by the day. Pitchers Andrew Miller (right knee tendinitis) and Danny Salazar (sore right elbow) were placed on the 10-day DL on Tuesday.
Miller was on the DL with the knee injury from Aug. 2 to 18 and made only two appearances before being sidelined again. He was removed Monday after facing two batters.
Outfielders Michael Brantley (sprained right ankle) and Lonnie Chisenhall (strained right calf) and pitcher Josh Tomlin (strained left hamstring) have been sidelined for several weeks.
Although Kipnis and Miller are back on the DL with the same injuries that sidelined them earlier, Francona doesn’t think either player returned too quickly.
“When guys say they’re ready and the medical people say they’re ready, you try to use your best information,” Francona said. “It’s certainly not perfect. We know that. Guys do get hurt and when they get hurt we do question ourselves, but I don’t think we would have done anything different.”
Miller was examined by Dr. Richard Parker, the head physician of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. The Indians have reached out to the Cavaliers to see if there is something more they can do with a condition more common in NBA players.
“The good news from Dr. Parker was, he’s confident that Andrew will pitch and help us,” Francona said.
Kipnis is batting .228 with 11 homers and 30 RBIs. He was on the DL from July 9 to Aug. 6 when he first injured the hamstring.
Infielder Erik Gonzalez was recalled from Triple-A Columbus.
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