GOODYEAR, Ariz. — OK, now it’s time to start worrying. Jason Donald is.

Donald, the frontrunner to open the season as the Indians’ starting third baseman   when camp began, was scheduled to take batting practice Thursday with hopes of returning to the lineup today.

He did not take BP, playing six innings in the field during a minor league game in Goodyear, and will not play today, with the bone bruise in his left hand still prohibiting him from swinging a bat.

“We’re not where we need to be right now,” said a disappointed Donald, who has missed nine exhibition games with the injury that he sustained when he was hit by a pitch March 5. “We’re going to wait a couple days and hopefully it will feel better.”

It felt better enough for Donald to return to the lineup for a two-game stint March 10-11, but he was scratched the following day and underwent an MRI that revealed the bone bruise. He has been sidelined since, anxiously awaiting his return to the batter’s box.

“It’s like the Cubs fan, ‘wait ’til next year,” said Donald, who has played in six exhibition games, batting .308 (4-for-13) with a double. “I’m waiting until the next day. You guys will hear me cheer when I finally get to hit.”

With less than two weeks left in camp and Donald not looking close to playing any time soon, the Indians have no other choice but to examine their other options, which include Luis Valbuena, Jayson Nix, Jack Hannahan and Adam Everett.

Lonnie Chisenhall, Cleveland’s top prospect and one of the team’s most productive players this spring — .478 (11-for-23) with two homers and four RBIs in  11 games — before being re-assigned to minor league camp, is also a long shot to replace Donald.

Both Hannahan and Everett, who are vying for the utility infield spot on the opening day roster, have enjoyed the most productive spring training performances among the four on the big league level thus far.

The 34-year-old Everett, who spent the last two years with the Tigers before signing a minor league contract with Cleveland this offseason, is batting .357 (10-for-28) with one RBI in 14 games. He has never played third base in the majors but played there Thursday in the Indians’ 5-1 loss to the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark.

Hannahan, 31, is a two-year veteran that spent all of last season in the minor leagues with Seattle, and like Everett, is under a minor league contract with Cleveland.

The defensive-minded infielder has spent the majority of his career at third base, where he has been arguably the Indians’ best fielder at the position this spring. The career .224 hitter has also handled the bat well, hitting .387 (12-for-31) with three doubles and four RBIs in 13 exhibition games.

Valbuena, who struggled mightily in the field (10 errors) and at the plate (.193) in 91 games for Cleveland last year, is batting .233 (7-for-30) with three homers and seven RBIs in 13 exhibition games.

Nix, who spent the majority of his time last year with the Indians at third base, was a liability in the field — 11 errors in 78 games — and is hitting a minuscule .105 (2-for-19) with a homer and two RBIs in seven exhibition games.

With Everett inexperienced at the position, the ace in the hole could be Hannahan.

“We feel very good about him defensively,” Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said of Hannahan. “He gives you a consistent at-bat. He’s had a good camp on both sides of the ball.”

And if Donald isn’t ready, he could be the Indians’ opening day third baseman.

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