Hafner Placed on 15-Day DL; LHP Rundles Called Up
The Indians today suffered a blow on offense, as DH Travis Hafter was placed on the 15-day DL with soreness in the shoulder that was operated on this past offseason. Hafner has appeared in 17 games for the Indians so far this season and is hitting .270 (17-63) with 10 runs scored, 5 doubles, 4 home runs and 8RBI. He currently owns an on-base % of .370 with an on-base+slugging % (OPS) of .910. Today marks the 4th DL stint of his Major League career.
The team needed to bring up a pitcher, so they called up lefty Rich Rundles to take his spot on the roster. Rundles has gone 0-1 with a 1.50 ERA in 7 appearances out of the bullpen at Columbus (6.0IP, 3H, 2R/1ER, 3BB, 7K) after being optioned out of spring training on March 15. He has not allowed a run in his last 4 appearances (3.0IP, 1H, BB, 4K) with the Clippers and has limited AAA hitters to a .136 (3-22) average against so far this year. He wears #56 and will be in uniform tonight as the Indians take on the Red Sox at 7:05PM ET in Progressive Field.
The offense has had severe moments of drought already in this first month of the 2009 season, and now with losing Hafner it remains to be seen if someone else can step in and take up the slack. Tonight Kelly Shoppach is hitting in the 9th spot as the DH.
Matt has covered Major League Baseball and the "other two" Pro teams in Cleveland since 1994. He has been on the beat of the Indians in full-time mode since 1996, working for various raido and print networks around the country.
