CLEVELAND — Another injury-plagued season could be over for Travis Hafner.
Hafner, who was placed on the disabled list Monday with a strained tendon in the bottom of his right foot, is expected to miss at least the next two weeks.
According to head trainer Lonnie Soloff, season-ending surgery is an option for Hafner. Soloff said the Indians would make a decision on the surgery over the next few days.
Hafner injured the foot earlier in the year and missed a handful of games without landing on the injured list. He aggravated the injury Sunday while running to second base.
“He was adamant about his desire to continue to play and support the team,” Soloff said. “Then he injured it again Sunday.”
Hafner, who is batting .281 with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs in 82 games, also spent time on the DL this season with a strained oblique muscle. If he does undergo year-ending surgery, he will have played in an average of 88 games in each of the last four seasons.
The Indians had plenty of other injury news:
**A lingering wrist ailment will sideline outfielder Michael Brantley until at least Friday. He missed both games of the doubleheader Tuesday.
“Michael can’t swing the bat,” Manager Manny Acta said. “Unfortunately, he’s not getting any better.”
Brantley will be examined Friday and if he is not ready to play, he will likely be placed on the DL.
**Grady Sizemore tested his injured right knee Tuesday with increased running and agility drills. He said Monday that he expects to begin playing in minor-league rehab games next week, but Soloff didn’t sound as certain.
“I trust Grady’s self-evaluation, but that’s not outlined as of yet,” Soloff said. “We have a lot of hurdles to get over.”
**General manager Chris Antonetti said Monday that he was optimistic that second baseman Jason Kipnis (hamstring) would return before the season is complete. The GM is hopeful that Kipnis will be activated around the time he is eligible to come off the DL, which is Monday.
**Soloff said right-hander Carlos Carrasco (right elbow inflammation) would not be able to pitch again until Sept. 1. If and when Carrasco is activated from the DL, he will still have to serve a six-game suspension.
Comings and goings
As was expected, Shelley Duncan rejoined the Indians from the family emergency list, with reliever Josh Judy optioned back to Triple-A Columbus to clear room on the roster for Duncan.
Right-hander Zach McAllister was officially recalled from Columbus to start the second game of the doubleheader. Infielder Luis Valbuena was sent back to the Clippers to clear room for McAllister.
Big league Choo
It was an eventful 24-plus hours for right fielder Shin-Soo Choo to say the least.
Choo was out of the lineup Monday for his wife’s birth of the couple’s first daughter, which occurred at 12:05 p.m.
He was still at the hospital Tuesday morning, arriving at the park at around 11 a.m. before hitting the game-winning home run in the first game of a doubleheader with the Mariners.
“I feel a lot of drama, like a movie,” Choo said. “I’m not an emotional guy, but running the bases, I was really thinking of my family. It’s the best present for my daughter, right?”
Choo was questionable for Tuesday’s first game. He said he received a call from the Indians at the hospital, then after clearing it with his wife, called them back and said he wanted to play.
“We didn’t even know if he was going to make it,” Acta said. “I’m glad he came.”
Minor details
Right fielder Travis Buck went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI Monday in Columbus’ 6-4 loss to Buffalo. Buck, who has spent the majority of the season with the Indians, entered Tuesday batting .258 with three homers and 22 RBIs in 29 games for the Clippers. … Shortstop Juan Diaz had two of Double-A Akron’s three hits Monday in a 9-1 loss at Bowie. Diaz, who was acquired last year along with Ezequiel Carrera in a trade with Seattle for Russell Branyan, entered Tuesday hitting .255 with eight homers and 54 RBIs in 122 games for the Aeros.
Roundin’ third
Indians pitchers entered Tuesday walking the fewest number of batters (332) in the American League. … Entering Tuesday, the combined winning percentage of the Indians’ remaining opponents stood at .476. … Today, 12:05, No television, WTAM 1100-AM. Tomlin (12-6, 4.03) vs. Hernandez (11-11, 3.38).
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Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.
