GOODYEAR, Ariz. — First baseman Russell Branyan has been the invisible man this spring, but he thinks that is about to change.

Branyan, who is dealing with a herniated disk in his lower back and has yet to play in an exhibition game, is optimistic that he will be able to make his spring debut soon.

“I’m doing everything but a game,” said Branyan, who has increased his baseball activities this week, hitting off a tee, running and participating in fielding drills. “The game’s coming pretty soon, I think.”

It’s been an agonizingly slow process for Branyan, with the Indians expecting him to begin playing in exhibition games over a week ago, but the back issue preventing that from happening.

“It is what it is,” said Branyan, whose career year with Seattle last year — 31 home runs and 76 RBIs — was cut short at 116 games thanks to the back ailment. “I think it was all set up by the injury I had last year and working hard this offseason to get better. This year for me has just taken a little bit longer. We’re just being smart about it.

“It’s a slow process because we’re building my volume. It’s just really precise. That was the question coming (into spring training), whether I could handle the volume and the long days of camp. That was the million dollar question.”

It’s actually the $2 million question, which is the amount the Indians are obligated to pay Branyan on a one-year contract he signed this offseason as Cleveland’s biggest free-agent acquisition. Though the Indians knew Branyan would be rehabilitating the back injury during spring training, they obviously didn’t envision the slugger opening the year on the disabled list.

According to Cleveland manager Manny Acta, a DL situation can be avoided, should Branyan make it back for the final week of the exhibition season, which begins Monday.

“I think he’s right by saying that,” Branyan said. “I think a week is definitely enough time. The progression I’m on now, I think I have a very good shot of making the opening-day roster. It’s just going to be what they see when I start playing games and whether they think I need more games.

“I think it’s going to be their decision. As long as I continue to progress, I feel very optimistic, but ultimately, it’s going to be Manny’s decision.”

Acta is still sticking with that deadline.

“By the end of (this) weekend we’re going to make the decision to accelerate the process and get the at-bats necessary to be ready for opening day,” he said.

Whatever the case, it has not been a smooth spring for the 34-year-old Branyan, who is back for his fourth stint in Cleveland after being drafted by the Indians in the seventh round of the 1994 draft.

“Camp’s tough on everybody, not just an older guy vs. a younger guy,” said Branyan, who has played for eight teams during a 12-year career. “It’s not the first time I’ve faced adversity in this game.”

Branyan said that even if he does not break camp with the Indians that it wouldn’t be long before he finally arrives.

“I don’t see it dragging on,” he said.

“If we only lose him for a week or two if he’s not ready to begin the regular season, that’s a good thing for us,” Acta said.

The Indians have options at first base should Branyan not answer the opening-day bell.

Matt LaPorta was slated to start the season at first before Cleveland signed Branyan, and veteran Austin Kearns can play the position as well, though he has been an outfielder for the entirety of his eight-year career.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.