GOODYEAR, Ariz. — When he met with the media Monday, Indians general manager Chris Antonetti seemed confident that the injury to third baseman Jason Donald’s left hand would not linger the rest of the spring.

Donald, who is nursing a bone bruise that has caused him to miss eight exhibition games, sounded far less certain.

“Honestly, I’m hoping it doesn’t (linger),” said Donald, who sustained the injury after being hit by a pitch March 5 against the White Sox. “I’m not trying to look past each day and getting it better. That’s all I can focus on. If I start thinking ahead about what’s going to happen, I’ll get too stressed out.

“I’m just trying to get it better each day and hoping that it feels better.”

Donald (.308 in six games) said he is scheduled to swing the bat Thursday with hopes of returning to the lineup Friday. Manager Manny Acta said Donald’s return might come only in the field as a defensive replacement.

The frontrunner to open the season as the starter at third base, Donald missed four games after being hit by the pitch, then returned for two games before being scratched and undergoing an MRI that revealed the bone bruise. He has missed the last three games.

If the injury does linger, the Indians would most likely turn to one of three candidates — Luis Valbuena, Jack Hannahan and Jayson Nix — to fill the vacancy, with top prospect Lonnie Chisenhall as an outside shot.

Running man

Grady Sizemore passed another test on his road to recovery from microfracture surgery on his left knee, running the bases for the second time Tuesday in Goodyear.

Sizemore is scheduled to run the bases once more Thursday or Friday and will attempt to slide for the first time at the end of the base running session. Sliding is how Sizemore sustained the injury in the final exhibition game last year.

Sizemore’s exhibition debut is expected to come sometime this weekend.

“If everything goes well, and it has been going extremely well, we’ll look at the 20th,” Acta said. “Seeing him shagging and chasing balls in the outfield has been very encouraging.”

Falling stock

It was a rough day for reliever Jensen Lewis, who allowed the Brewers to take a 7-6 lead in the seventh by allowing a pair of three-run homers.

The right-hander’s spot in the bullpen appeared secure, but Acta said that wasn’t the case.

“He is battling for a spot,” Acta said. “We made it clear at the start of camp that he had a leg up, but a leg up doesn’t mean you’re in.”

Lewis has allowed seven runs and 11 hits in five games (five innings).

First time

Anthony Reyes made his exhibition debut and failed to last an inning after allowing two runs on a hit and a walk. The right-hander, who missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, entered camp in the running for the fifth spot in the rotation before a setback ended the bid.

Crowe’s seat

Outfielder Trevor Crowe (rotator cuff) has been running and playing catch and is expected to test his right shoulder by throwing at full steam before the week is complete.

The injury has taken Crowe out of the running for the extra outfield spot on the opening day roster, but the Indians are hoping the rehab plan they are on will suffice.

“I think we’re going to continue on the path we’re on,” said general manager Chris Antonetti. “If he fails to recover, then surgery is obviously an option.”

Crowe, 27, was a regular in the outfield last year, batting .251 with two homers and 36 RBIs in 111 games.

Kicking back

The Indians have their first and only off-day today.

Many of the players will take advantage of the wealth of golf courses in Arizona, but not reliever Frank Herrmann.

“I have no plans,” Herrmann said. “I’m keeping it completely wide open. I got my wife and my dog here and I just had my in-laws here, so I’ve been doing stuff. So, (today) is a sit by the pool and relax kind of day.”

Unlike Herrmann, Acta has plans.

“I’m going to sleep in until 10 a.m., if I can,” he said, “then, I’m going golfing.”

Roundin’ third

Fifth starter candidate Josh Tomlin will pitch in a minor league camp game today in Goodyear. … Members of the Midwest League champion Class A Lake County Captains were honored prior to the game. It was the first minor league title for Lake County in its inaugural season in the ML. … The Indians resume their Cactus League schedule Thursday against the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark (4:05, no television or radio). Fausto Carmona (3-1, 5.25) vs. Mike Leake (0-0, 9.00).

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

INDIANS (7-9-2) 9, BREWERS 7 (11-7)

HITS: Mitch Talbot offered up his first positive outing of the spring. Cleveland’s third starter allowed just a run on six hits, while striking out three without a walk, to lower his exhibition ERA to 10.50 in four appearances. … Catcher Carlos Santana had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs and his first home run of the spring. … Closer Chris Perez pitched a scoreless sixth inning and struck out two. … Michael Brantley went 3-for-5 with a double and a run. … Right-hander Vinnie Pestano struck out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth to earn his first save.

MISSES: Reliever Jensen Lewis allowed the Brewers to come back in the seventh inning by serving up a pair of three-run homers with two outs, both to bench players Eric Farris and Mike Rivera. … Second baseman Orlando Cabrera and left fielder Ezequiel Carrera were the only Indians starters without a hit. … Anthony Reyes’ exhibition debut lasted just 2/3 of an inning, the right-hander allowing two runs on a hit and a walk.

TURNING POINT: After the Brewers took a one-run lead in the seventh, the Indians came back with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Backup catcher candidate Paul Phillips drove in the go-ahead run with a single.

MANAGER’S MOMENT: “We did a lot of good things offensively and defensively,” Acta said. “We got some big hits.”

IN TRIBUTE: Flags at Goodyear Ballpark were at half mast in honor of Corporal Frank W. Buckles, the last surviving American veteran of World War I. Buckles died at the age of 110.

ATTENDANCE: 3,801 at Goodyear Ballpark.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — It’s make or break time for Matt LaPorta.

Laporta

The highly touted slugger hasn’t done much slugging since arriving in Cleveland via the CC Sabathia trade with Milwaukee in 2008. If he doesn’t hit this year, it might very well be his last with the Indians.

“I feel like it’s a big year for a lot of our young players,” said general manager Chris Antonetti. “For us to be the team that we want to be, we’re going to need contributions from a lot of young players.”

Maybe so, but LaPorta, 26, is a bit more pivotal then the rest of Cleveland’s youth movement. He plays a corner position that is associated with offense and power, and LaPorta has shown little of both on the big league level the past two seasons.

He got extensive playing time (110 games) as the Indians’ starter at first base in 2010 and hit just .221 with 12 home runs and 41 RBIs. The Indians need more from him this year.

More photos below.

“I would say so,” said manager Manny Acta, when asked if this was a big season for LaPorta. “He’s already had a (full) year of experience. But we’re trying to keep that away from Matty. We’re a team. We’re hoping he’s the guy that he’s supposed to be, but we’re the Cleveland Indians. It’s not all about Matty.”

LaPorta is aware of the expectations that have been placed upon him and thinks he’s ready to be the guy Acta is talking about.

“I expect to play healthy and play strong and be strong the whole season and go out there and hopefully help this team win,” he said. “I just want to be consistent with everything, with my approach, my diet, my sleep, my hitting, all that goes into being a successful baseball player. That’s my goal this year.

“I think my power has always been there. I think it’s a matter of developing into a better hitter. Now I’m more consistent making contact with balls and when I’m making contact with balls good things are going to happen.”

Some of LaPorta’s lack of production last year can be attributed to health issues. He came to training camp fresh off surgeries on his hip and toe, and the hip bothered him into the regular season.

“Probably the first couple months, it was still really tight and locked up,” said LaPorta, who opened the year as Cleveland’s starter at first before being demoted to Triple-A Columbus in favor of Russell Branyan. “When I wanted to push it, it was still kind of locked up in there. You feel the tightness and everything.

“As the season kept going on, probably June, July, August, I was feeling better. I was feeling strong.”

Once Branyan was traded, LaPorta was brought back to Cleveland and finished the season as the regular first baseman. He produced upon his recall, batting .286 with four homers and 16 RBIs in his first 30 games, but ran out of steam at the end and hit just .153 over the final month.

“By the end of the season, the legs were just fatigued,” LaPorta said. “As you know, it’s a long season anyway. If you’re not prepared for it, it can be tough.”

Though LaPorta has struggled to adjust to big league pitching, he has handled the other part of the game, making a smooth transition from the outfield to first. After some growing pains in 2009, LaPorta impressed Acta with his glove last year.

“I’m high on his defense,” Acta said. “I’ve never complained about his defense. He played very well for us defensively last year. (Offense is) his ticket in baseball. Offensively, that’s where most of his improvement will come.”

LaPorta’s bat has yet to get going this spring — .147 (5-for-34), a homer, six RBIs in 12 games — but he’s healthy and looking forward to what could be a significant year for his future.

“It’s a lot nicer to be able to just play baseball and prepare your body to go out and perform, not just trying to get healthy,” LaPorta said. “I feel great right now. I’m excited to get going.”

Today

• Who: Indians vs. Brewers
• Time: 4:05 p.m.
• Where: Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, Ariz.
• TV/radio: STO (live); WTAM 1100-AM (tape delayed at 7 p.m.)

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

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Indians made their second round of cuts Monday. The most notable player to go: third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall.

Chisenhall

Chisenhall, who made a strong impression at training camp, was one of seven players trimmed from the spring training roster. He was re-assigned to minor league camp along with RHP Zach Putnam, RHP Alex White, catcher Juan Apodaca and infielder Jason Kipnis.

RHP Zach McCallister and outfielder Nick Weglarz were optioned to Triple-A Columbus.

Chisenhall, 21, has arguably been Cleveland’s top position player this spring, batting .478 (11-for-23) with two home runs and four RBIs in 11 games.

“We wanted to make sure to continue to get him consistent at-bats,” said general manager Chris Antonetti. “We need to give those at-bats to players trying to make this team.

“Lonnie had a very good camp, but he still has some development to do. Those consistent at-bats will allow him to continue on that path.”

Chisenhall’s addition to the major league roster would create a buzz for fans of a team that is not expected to contend in the Central Division, but Antonetti is looking beyond that.

“I think that would be short-sided,” he said. “We can’t just focus on bringing excitement. Our goal is to win championships. We want to make sure Lonnie is well-positioned to succeed on the major league level.”

The Indians caught some heat for delaying the promotion of big time prospect Carlos Santana last year. Many felt the cost-conscious club was trying to limit Santana’s service time for arbitration purposes. But Santana was at Triple-A, a level Chisenhall hasn’t seen after spending the entire season at Double-A Akron last year.

“That’s certainly not the case,” Antonetti said, when asked the arbitration question about Chisenhall. “Everybody to a person thought he needed more development. If he was that far ahead, he would have been at Triple-A last year. We feel he like he needs to have some Triple-A time.”

While Chisenhall may be ready to hit on the big league level, the Indians feel he needs more defensive seasoning. But there is still the strong possibility that Cleveland’s first-round draft choice (29th overall) in 2008 will make his major league debut sometime this season.

“A few things have to happen for that to take place,” Antonetti said. “First, there has to be an opportunity. If the opportunity is there, he needs to make sure he’s done things developmentally to position himself for that opportunity.”

Like Chisenhall, White, 22, and Kipnis, 24, are two of the Indians’ top prospects.

White, a first-round pick (15th overall) in 2009, made three exhibition appearances (five innings), allowing six runs, 10 hits and three walks, while striking out six.

Kipnis, a second-round selection in 2009, hit .167 (3-for-18) with a triple, homer and two RBIs in nine games.

No worries

Antonetti isn’t concerned that the bone bruise on Jason Donald’s left hand will sideline the third baseman for any significant amount of time.

“There’s no breaks or fractures,” Antonetti said. “It’s just a question of whether it’s a significant bone bruise. It should resolve quickly and he should be back on the field in a couple of days.”

Donald has missed eight games after being hit on the hand by a pitch against the White Sox. He returned to the lineup for two games, missing the next three after an MRI revealed the bone bruise.

If the injury lingers and Donald is not prepared to start the season, the other options at third base include Jayson Nix, Luis Valbuena and Jack Hannahan. The Indians could also turn to Chisenhall, but it isn’t likely.

On the mend

Reliever Joe Smith is still working through a sore abdominal muscle but is expected to return soon.

“He needs a couple more days,” said Acta of the right-hander, who has pitched in five exhibition games (five innings), allowing two runs on three hits and two walks.

Pronk’s progress

Travis Hafner has yet to go deep this spring but he’s swinging a hot bat, hitting . 344 (11-for-32) with three doubles and four RBIs in 10 exhibition games. He had his best game of the spring Monday, going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs, in the Indians’ 9-8 win over Oakland at Goodyear Ballpark.

Despite Hafner’s lack of production in recent years, Acta isn’t keeping tabs on Hafner’s exhibition effort.

“I’m not worried about Hafner,” Acta said. “He’s been in the league a lot of years and he’s always hit. I’m not going to come into spring training and judge Travis Hafner.”

Roundin’ third

• White and Kipnis were presented with minor league awards prior to Monday’s game. White won the “Bob Feller Award,” given to the top pitcher after going a combined 10-10 with a 2.45 ERA in 26 games (25 starts) for Class A Kinston and Double-A Akron last year. Kipnis won the “Lou Boudreau Award” as the top position player after hitting a combined .307 with 16 homers and 74 RBIs in 133 games for Kinston and Akron.
• Today, 4:05 vs. Milwaukee at Goodyear Ballpark. STO (live)/WTAM 1100-AM (delayed 7 p.m.). Mitch Talbot (0-0, 17.55) vs. Chris Narveson (0-0, 1.17).

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