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Terry Francona: ‘I’m betting on the under’ for Francisco Lindor’s return to Indians

Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona would not be surprised to see All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor return quicker than expected from a right calf strain.

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona knows better than to underestimate a player when one is coming off of injury, and certainly, he is not counting out All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor, who is slated to miss most, if not all of spring training because of a right calf strain.

While preparing in Orlando, Florida for the start of Spring Training, Lindor suffered the injury, and after medical evaluation in Cleveland, a timetable for his return to Major League game activity was set at seven to nine weeks.

“He’s been rehabbing in Orlando. Now, he’ll transition to here,” Francona told reporters following Thursday’s on-field work.

“I think anybody that knows Frankie…I know they put a timetable on it, and it’s probably not fair, I’m betting on the under. Just knowing Frankie, the way his body is, he’s in such good shape. He’s young. He works. He’ll be fine.”

Credit: Nam Y. Huh
Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor is expected to miss 7-9 weeks with a right calf strain.

The Indians open the 2019 season with a three-game weekend series against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis on March 28 and start the home portion of the schedule on Monday, April 1 against the Chicago White Sox.

Pitchers and catchers reported to Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona on Tuesday, February 12 and the full squad is due in on Saturday, February 16. However, Lindor reported to Goodyear early, and got right to working on the process of getting healthy.

“Frankie’s not going to be playing games,” Francona said. “He will be doing a ton, just not on the field right now.”

Credit: Tony Dejak
Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor throws to first base to turn a double play after getting Minnesota Twins' Logan Forsythe out at second base in the sixth inning of a baseball game at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on August 7, 2018.

Lindor earned his status as a Gold Glove Award finalist for the third straight season in 2018.

During a team-high 1,386.1 innings of work, Lindor had 189 putouts with 383 assists against 14 errors in 586 total chances. Lindor was a part of 82 double plays turned by the Indians in 2018, and finished his fourth season in MLB with a .976 fielding percentage.

Lindor won the AL Gold Glove Award at shortstop and was the “Platinum Glove” honoree as the Wilson Overall Defensive Player of the Year Award winner in 2016.

Last season, Lindor led the Indians with 183 hits and 42 doubles, was tied for third in triples, third in runs batted in and second with 38 home runs. Lindor set a club record for lead-off home runs, as he started nine games with round-trippers in 2018.

Credit: Tony Dejak
Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor hits a one-run double off Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Jose Berrios in the fourth inning of a baseball game at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on August 9, 2018.

Through 574 games over his first four years with the Indians, Lindor collected 665 hits, including 138 doubles, 13 triples and 98 home runs, with 310 runs batted in, 377 runs scored and 214 walks drawn against 357 strikeouts. Additionally, Lindor stole 71 bases in 91 attempts.

A three-time American League All-Star infielder, Lindor has a .288 career batting average with .350 on-base, .487 slugging and .837 on-base-plus-slugging percentages.

“They always do that, and in fairness to the player, you let the injury dictate when guys play,” Francona said of the timetable. “I just wouldn’t be surprised. Like I said, I’m betting on the under if I were a betting man.”

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