CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians expect outfielder Michael Brantley to increase baseball activities over the next couple of weeks after rehabbing his way back from offseason ankle surgery, the team announced Thursday afternoon.
Brantley had offseason surgery to stabilize the ligaments in his right ankle and had the option year of his contract picked up for 2018 shortly after the conclusion of the 2017 season.
“Michael is progressing well and as expected,” the Indians said in a statement. “He has resumed straight-ahead running, along with long toss and cage batting practice. He will continue a graduated increase in activity over the next couple of weeks.”
A two-time American League All-Star in his nine-year career with the Indians, Brantley underwent surgery on his right ankle in the days following the team’s elimination from the 2017 Major League Baseball Playoffs, and was expected to need four to five months of recovery before resuming full baseball activity.
Brantley had the arthroscopic surgery done in Charlotte by Dr. Robert Anderson to stabilize ligaments in his right ankle, which he severely sprained in August while tracking down a ball in the outfield and spent seven weeks out of the lineup while the injury healed.
Healthy for the first time in nearly three years after back-to-back injury-shortened seasons, Brantley returned to his All-Star form over the first half of 2017 and smacked 69 hits in 228 at-bats (.303 batting average) with 15 doubles, five home runs, 31 runs batted in, 27 runs scored, 22 walks against 37 strikeouts and eight stolen bases.
Brantley ranked in the Indians’ top 10 in nearly every offensive category at the time of his selection to the MLB All-Star Game.
Brantley finished the 2017 regular season with a .299 batting average, 20 doubles, one triple and nine home runs with 52 RBI, 47 runs scored and 101 hits in 338 at-bats. He registered 31 walks against 50 strikeouts and had a .444 slugging percentage.
In the postseason, Brantley went just one for 11 with one walk against four strikeouts as the Indians lost to the New York Yankees in five games in the 2017 American League Division Series.
Over the last two years, Brantley has missed 223 out of a possible 324 games.
In addition to Brantley, the Indians provided medical updates on several other injured players:
Pitcher Cody Anderson (right elbow UCL reconstruction) “is approaching 10.5 months post op and is doing well. Anderson is currently long tossing and is on track to begin mound activity this Saturday, February 17.”
Pitcher Danny Salazar (Right shoulder inflammation) “experienced an onset of right shoulder rotator cuff inflammation in mid-January during his offseason throwing program, but has resumed throwing and is progressing well. Salazar is a couple weeks behind the rest of the current group of pitchers.”
Pitcher Adam Plutko (right hip surgery) “is recovering from right hip labrum repair that took place in October. Plutko is throwing bullpens and on track to resume game activity by early March.”
Infielder Yandy Diaz (recovered from right groin strain) “has rehabbed his right groin injury and is currently without restriction.”
Outfielder Brandon Guyer (left wrist extensor tendon repair) “is progressing very well with all aspects of his rehab and strengthening program. Guyer is cleared for all throwing and outfield-specific work. He will be re-checked next week to determine his readiness to begin a return to hit program.”
Outfielder Bradley Zimmer (resolved left hand fracture) “completed his rehabilitation and enters spring training with no restrictions.”
