Bourn resumes light baseball activities in KC

KANSAS CITY -- Michael Bourn did not spend Thursday's team off-day in Kansas City with the rest of his teammates. The Indians center fielder was back in Cleveland at Progressive Field, going through a workout and running the bases.

Bourn had five stitches removed from his injured right index finger while in Cleveland and rejoined the team on Friday, where he resumed a series of light baseball activities. The All-Star outfielder leaned against his locker inside the visitors' clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium and expressed his frustration over being sidelined.

"I don't want to not be able to play," Bourn said. "Sitting right here is not a fun thing to do."

Bourn injured his hand while sliding into first base in the eighth inning of a 3-1 loss to the White Sox on April 14. On the play -- a ground ball to first baseman Adam Dunn -- Chicago reliever Matt Thornton stepped on Bourn's hand after receiving a relay throw and running through first base.

Bourn is eligible to be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday, when Cleveland begins a nine-game homestand, but it is not a given that the center fielder will be ready at that time. The Indians are taking a day-to-day approach with his recovery, which may or may not include a Minor League rehab assignment.

"Now it's just trying to get him back," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "The first day he is eligible is Tuesday, so we'll go on him, how he's doing. We'll just see where he's at each day. I don't know if he needs [a rehab assignment]. If he thinks he needs one, we'll do it. If he doesn't, we probably won't."

Bourn has not resumed playing catch, but he can grip a baseball and a fungo bat. Francona indicated that the outfielder was cleared to do some light hitting drills on Friday, when the Indians moved their pregame workout indoors due to a steady rain, which postponed the series opener.

Through 10 games this season, Bourn has hit .333 (15-for-45) with two home runs, four doubles, one triple, two RBIs and seven runs scored for the Tribe.