The Cleveland Indians look set to make their final push for the playoffs without starting second baseman Jason Kipnis, who will miss the rest of the season with a fracture in his right hamate bone.
The veteran second baseman suffered the injury in Cleveland’s Sunday win over the Minnesota Twins after a swing against reliever Sergio Romo. Incredibly, he managed to stay in the game after the injury and even managed to rap a double off of Romo in the very same at-bat.
This leaves the Indians without another starting infielder, as they are already without two-time All-Star Jose Ramirez for the rest of the season due to the very same injury that Kipnis suffered.
The Illinois native, who has been a fixture in the Indians’ lineup for the better part of the last decade, was having a decent season up until his injury, batting .245 with 17 home runs and playing good defense at second base.
He is expected to be replaced in the lineup by a combination of Mike Freeman, Yu Chang, and Andrew Velazquez, who was called up to replace him on Cleveland’s roster.
This will be Kipnis’s last season in Cleveland, more than likely, as the team is expected to turn down its option for the veteran second baseman’s services next season.
