CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from a previous, unrelated story.
Baseball fans in Akron looking to see some big league talent won't have to make the trip up I-77 this week. On Monday, the Cleveland Indians announced that starting pitcher Zach Plesac, designated hitter/outfielder Franmil Reyes and catcher Roberto Perez will begin rehab assignments for their Double-A affiliate, the Akron RubberDucks, this week.
Plesac, who is recovering from a fractured thumb that he suffered last month, is slated to be the starting pitcher and pitch two innings in the RubberDucks' matchup with the Baltimore Orioles' affiliate Bowie Baysox at Akron's Canal Park on Tuesday night. Reyes, who is recovering from an oblique injury, and Perez, who underwent surgery on his right ring finger in early May, are expected to play against the Baysox on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
“We are thrilled to welcome back Zach Plesac and Roberto Perez and look forward to seeing the Fran-imal in person as Franmil Reyes makes his first appearance in Akron this week,” RubberDucks General Manager, Jim Pfander said in a statement. “We are thrilled to know the Indians organization trust us to provide a big-league environment at Canal Park for their current and future big leaguers, and we know our fans can’t wait to see these stars in a Ducks uniform before they return to the lineup in Cleveland!”
Laying claim to a 41-33 record, the Indians sit 2.5 games back of the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central Division heading into a three-game series with the Detroit Tigers set to begin on Monday.