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Cleveland Indians' 2B Jason Kipnis probably out for opener

By The Sports Xchange
Chicago Cubs' Jason Heyward (22) steals second base in front of Cleveland Indians' Jason Kipnis (R) during the ninth inning of World Series game 7 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, on November 2, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI
1 of 3 | Chicago Cubs' Jason Heyward (22) steals second base in front of Cleveland Indians' Jason Kipnis (R) during the ninth inning of World Series game 7 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, on November 2, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo

Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis most likely will miss the season opener on April 3 because of a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder.

Manager Terry Francona told reporters that the two-time All-Star was scheduled to be the designated hitter on Sunday against the San Diego Padres but the team's medical staff decided to shut him down for two weeks.

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"He could certainly DH today," Francona said Sunday morning, via Cleveland.com. "He could actually go play second, but because there are times when he's still feeling this thing (shoulder), the medical people and Kipnis have met and the determination was that we're going to keep him down for a couple of weeks.

"What they do in the next couple of weeks is to be determined. We had a pretty lengthy conversation because he is getting better. Nothing has gone haywire, nothing has gone wrong. But it's such a long season, by taking this approach, we want to make sure they knock it out and not get it at 90 or 85 percent. That's why we're doing this."

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Kipnis had a cortisone shot in his shoulder on Feb. 25 and was told to avoid throwing for four to five days. He played his first two games of the spring at DH on Thursday and Friday.

Francona was asked if the 29-year-old Kipnis would be ready for the season opener.

"Well, if he's shut down for two weeks, that's almost Opening Day right there. I'd say probably not," Francona said. "Hopefully, after these two weeks they completely knock it out, which would be great. That's why they're doing it. And then they can let him ramp up and if he's healthy he can ramp up quickly. But that's probably a stretch right now."

Kipnis hit a career-best 23 home runs last season while batting .275 with 82 RBIs in 156 games. He slugged four more homers during the postseason as Cleveland reached the World Series before losing to the Chicago Cubs in seven games.

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