The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Brantley activated by Tribe, pinch hits in loss to Sox
Michael Brantley is back on the Indians’ active roster.
The two-time All-Star outfielder, on the disabled list since Aug. 9 with multiple injuries to his right ankle, was activated on Sept. 30 before the Indians played the Chicago White Sox in the next-to-last scheduled game of the regular season.
Brantley was not in the starting lineup for the Indians, who clinched the American League Central Division title on Sept. 13 and will have the homefield advantage throughout the American League playoffs. He did, however, pinch hit for Giovanny Urshela in the fifth inning, hitting a single to right field.
Before the game, Indians manager Terry Francona said Brantley was told he was back on the roster after completing pregame drills.
“He went out, did his base-running and did well,” Francona said.
In 88 games this season, the 30-year-old Brantley is batting .299 with nine home runs and 52 RBI. He
has a career. 292 batting average with 70 home runs and 452 RBI.
It’s been another challenging season health-wise for the seven-year veteran.
He had an earlier stint on the disabled list, from June 16 to June 25, also with an ankle injury. Brantley missed all but 11 games last season with a lingering
shoulder injury that required two surgical procedures.
Francona was cautious in his comments about Brantley. He would not say
whether he planned to get Brantley into the regularseason finale against the White Sox on Oct. 1.
“I want to sit and talk with him.,” Francona said. “I don’t know if anxiety is the right word. He’s trying so hard to be a part of what we’re doing. I just want to talk to him at length. He’s got a career ahead of him. I just want to make sure we’re not putting him in a spot that isn’t right. That’s where we left it. I think he was comfortable with that, too.”
The Indians have thrived during Brantley’s most recent stint on the DL, winning 42 of 51 games. They peeled off a 22-game win streak during that stretch, setting the franchise and American League record for consecutive victories.
Brantley’s return to the active roster adds another variable to the deliberations over the Indians’ 25man roster for the playoffs. The roster must be finalized and submitted to the American League office league by the morning of Oct. 5.
The Indians will host Game 1 of the best-of-five American League Division Series later that day. They’ll face the winner of the AL wild card game on Oct. 3 between the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium.