The Cleveland Indians’ biggest 2013 offseason acquisition is headed to the disabled list for the first time while with the team.
Center fielder Michael Bourn will be taking a 15-day leave of absence from the top of Cleveland’s lineup after lacerating his finger and receiving five stitches after Sunday’s game against the Chicago White Sox (h/t Matt Snyder of CBS Sports).
Jordan Bastian, the team’s beat writer for MLB.com, reported the news on Twitter:
Later confirmed by Snyder, the Indians will wait to make the move official in the next couple of days as pitcher Scott Kazmir (the expected addition to the roster) rehabs with Triple-A affiliate Columbus.
Drew Stubbs is expected to take over duties in center field with Bourn sidelined.
Bourn sustained the injury in the eighth inning of Sunday’s game against the White Sox, sliding into first base in an attempt to beat out an infield single. He did just that, but payed the price, as White Sox first baseman Adam Dunn stepped on his finger in the process.
Cleveland ended up losing the game 3-1.
After the Atlanta Braves signed B.J. Upton this offseason, it became clear that there was no place for the 30-year-old speedster with Atlanta. Cleveland let things play out before signing Bourn to be its starting center fielder to a four-year, $48-million contract (via USA Today).
With splits of .333/.375/.600 through 10 games, Bourn has been a nice signing thus far for the Indians. While the severity of the injury doesn’t seem to be enough to keep Bourn out of action for too long, the last thing the Indians want (5-6 heading into Tuesday night’s game) is for Bourn to tear out his stitches or turn what should be a routine recovery process into something more.
He’ll head to the DL for some early-season rest, and will hopefully heal up completely from the freak play in time to suit up again before the end of the April schedule.
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