Skip to content

Ramirez carted off field after fouling ball off leg, no timetable for return

Tim Warner / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Cleveland Indians might've just dodged a major bullet.

Two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger winner Jose Ramirez was carted off the field Sunday after fouling a ball off his left leg.

Fortunately, the play doesn't appear to have led to a major injury. The Indians announced that Ramirez has been diagnosed with a left knee contusion, and X-rays on his knee returned negative.

Ramirez will stay in Arizona for treatment while the Indians travel to Texas for their final exhibition contests, but he'll meet the team in Minneapolis for the regular-season opener on March 28. It's unknown whether he'll be able to play in that game, and there's still no timetable for his return.

"He has a bruise. Obviously, he has a pretty good bruise. You could tell by the way he reacted," manager Terry Francona told reporters, according to Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com. "I think the trainers feel if they can get ahead of this thing in the first 24 hours - rather than having him jump on a flight - we can maybe get ahead of it a little bit."

A long-term injury to Ramirez would be the latest blow to Cleveland's infield, which has been decimated by injuries this spring. All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor hasn't played yet due to a calf injury and will open the regular season on the injured list, while second baseman Jason Kipnis is also dealing with a calf issue and won't play on Opening Day.

The 26-year-old, who finished third in AL MVP voting last season, came into Sunday's Cactus League finale hitting .240/.291/.380 in spring training.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox