Expect J. Ramirez back at third for Opening Day

CLEVELAND -- After getting the news that shortstop Francisco Lindor sprained his ankle on Tuesday and may be out longer than the Indians thought, the team can be even more thankful that José Ramirez (reliever) will likely be cleared to start at third base on Opening Day against the Twins.

On Wednesday, Indians manager Terry Francona told reporters that Ramirez should be ready to go for Thursday’s game in Minnesota after being carted off the field on Sunday against the White Sox with a left knee contusion. Ramirez dropped to the ground after fouling a ball off of the inside of his knee and was assisted to the medical cart, putting virtually no weight on his left leg.

“Yeah, the moment [I] got hit, [I] didn’t know how bad it was,” Ramirez said through an interpreter. “The pain, [I] couldn’t move [my] leg. So, thank God it wasn’t that bad."

After X-rays revealed it was only a contusion, the Indians decided not to risk any further injuries and kept their third baseman in Goodyear, Ariz., to receive treatment while the rest of the club flew to Texas to play its final two exhibition games of the spring.

“I think it was really a smart thing to do,” Francona said. “They treated him like crazy for that first 24 hours. He was able to get on the field the next day.”

Francona said on Tuesday that Ramirez had taken ground balls at the club's Spring Training facility, which was a positive sign that he was feeling better. Ramirez met up with the Tribe in Minnesota on Wednesday for the team's final workout before the regular season begins. Barring any setbacks through Wednesday evening, expect Ramirez to be back at the hot corner for Opening Day.

“[I] was relieved that it was nothing bad,” Ramirez said. “Right away, [I] felt good knowing that it was so close to Opening Day that I was going to be ready to play.”