Calf injury to sideline Lindor this spring

Indians shortstop out 7 to 9 weeks with calf strain

All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor is battling a calf injury that will likely keep him out of the lineup when the Indians open the regular season on March 28 against the Twins in Minnesota.

The Indians on Feb. 8 announced Lindor sustained a right calf strain while working out in Orlando, Fla., in preparation for spring training.

Lindor “is expected to return to major-league game activity in 7 to 9 weeks from his Wednesday evaluation,” according to the news release.

The injury of a moderate calf strain was confirmed by Dr. Mark Schickendantz of Cleveland Clinic.

A return in seven weeks would mean Lindor would be cleared for baseball activity on March 27, but that doesn’t mean he can play shortstop in games that soon.

Lindor will miss all of spring training if his projected return date doesn’t change.

The Indians open spring training on Feb. 12 when pitchers and catchers report to Goodyear, Ariz. The rest of the team is due in camp on Feb. 16. The first full-squad workout is Feb. 18. Lindor has begun his rehab and will be evaluated

daily in Goodyear, the Indians announced.

Lindor, 25, made the American League All-Star team each of the last three seasons. He played in 158 games last year, tied for the A.L. lead with 129 runs scored, and led the league with 661 at bats. His 38 home runs and 92 RBI were career highs.

The big question if Lindor isn’t ready for opening day is who will play shortstop for the club. Third baseman Jose Ramirez came up

in the Indians’ minorleague system as a player who could play multiple infield positions.

In 2014, when Asdrubal Cabrera was traded by the Indians, Ramirez was inserted as the Indians’ shortstop. The next season, Ramirez was the team’s shortstop on opening day. In 2016, he played four positions that season - second base, third base, shortstop, and left field.

Other possibilities if Lindor isn’t ready and the team opts not to play Ramirez at

shortstop could be minorleague prospect Yu-Cheng Chang, who has played 434 minor-league games at shortstop the last four seasons with Low SingleA Lake County, High Single-A Lyncburg, DoubleA Akron and Triple-A Columbus. Chang is the No. 6 rated Indians prospect by MLB.com.

Another option could be shortstop Max Moroff, a 2012 draftee of the Pirates who was part of a trade to the Indians last November.

DAVID J. PHILLIP — ASSOCIATED PRESS Francisco Lindor is out more than two months with a calf injury.