CLEVELAND — The injury certainly wasn’t, but the news regarding third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall was relatively painless.
Chisenhall, who left Thursday’s game after being hit in the face by a pitch in the second inning, sustained a fractured nasal bone, but was not placed on the disabled list and is not expected to miss extended time.
Though the injury will take 4-6 weeks to heal, Chisenhall will likely return well before that and could wear a mask to protect the broken bone below his cheek. Indians manager Manny Acta said Chisenhall could be available before the All-Star break Monday, but odds are good that the club will rest its prized prospect until the start of the second half.
“We’re very relieved, considering the kid had a concussion not that long ago and that he was hit in the face,” Acta said. “We’re very thankful that it’s not going to be a long-term thing.”
Chisenhall, who has played in nine games for the Indians during his major league debut season — .267 (8-for-30), one home run and two RBIs — sustained a cut on his face and a bloody nose after being hit by Carlos Villanueva. His face began to swell immediately after being hit and he didn’t look much better in the clubhouse Friday.
“It’s looks like he’s gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson,” said Cleveland’s head trainer Lonnie Soloff.
Acta, who along with Soloff tended to Chisenhall after he was hit, was expecting the worst upon arriving at the scene.
“When I walked up, there was blood coming out of his nose and I could see the scratch on his face where the ball hit him,” Acta said. “The first thing I thought was that it was some kind of fracture, and that’s always dangerous.”
All-Star starter?
Shortstop Derek Jeter won’t play in the All-Star Game, which could open a starting spot for Cleveland’s Asdrubal Cabrera, who finished second to Jeter in fan voting and was selected as a reserve in the player vote.
Without another shortstop on the American League All-Star roster, Cabrera would be the likely replacement, but AL manager, Texas’ Ron Washington, has the final say. Washington is expected to add another shortstop to the roster — possibly his own in Texas’ Elvis Andrus or Detroit’s Jhonny Peralta.
Hot Hafner
Designated hitter Travis Hafner has picked up where he left off, entering Friday with a .351 average (13-for-37), three homers and 13 RBIs in 16 games since being activated from the disabled list. He was hitting .347 with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 48 games on the season through Thursday.
Hafner’s walk-off grand slam Thursday night was the 12th grand slam of his career — second-most in team history behind Manny Ramirez’s 13 and fourth among active MLB players.
It was the second walk-off grand slam of the season for Cleveland, the other coming from Carlos Santana (April 29 vs. Detroit). The Indians are the last team to accomplish as much in 2002 — Bill Selby (July 14 vs. New York Yankees) and Jim Thome (July 28 vs. Detroit).
Comings and goings
Though the move was made after the game Thursday night, the Indians officially promoted infielder Luis Valbuena from Triple-A Columbus, optioning Thursday’s starter Zach McAllister back to the Clippers.
Valbuena, who has played in 194 games for Cleveland over the past two seasons, hit .313 with 12 homers and a team-leading 56 RBIs in 77 games at Columbus. This is his first stint in the big leagues this season.
Minor detail
The Indians have two players on Baseball America’s list of the top 50 prospects at the midseason point — left-hander Drew Pomeranz (14th) and infielder Jason Kipnis (31st). To be eligible, players had to be considered rookies and not currently on the big league level.
Pomeranz, Cleveland’s top draft pick last year — fifth overall — is 3-2 with a 1.87 ERA in 15 starts for High-A Kinston, striking out 95 batters in 77 innings. Kipnis, a second-round pick in 2009, entered Friday batting .302 with 11 homers and 51 RBIs in 82 games for Columbus.
Roundin’ third
Thursday’s walk-off win marked the Indians’ 20th comeback victory of the season and their 14th win in their last at-bat (tied with Royals for most in the AL through Thursday). … Former Indian pitcher and alumni ambassador, Mike Jackson (1997-99), threw out the ceremonial first pitch. … Tonight, 7:05, Channel 3/STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM. Tomlin (10-4, 3.78) vs. Morrow (5-4, 4.73).
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.
