The light at the end of Corey Kluber's rehab tunnel may have just stretched a little bit further away.
The Indians’ ace had been cruising through his Minor League rehab assignment until hitting a roadblock on Sunday, exiting his start for precautionary reasons after one inning with left abdominal tightness.
The injury could force the club to shut Kluber down for two weeks, according to a report in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The club has not confirmed the report, which also said the pitcher was in Cleveland on Monday undergoing an MRI and other tests.
Kluber -- working his way back from fracturing his right forearm on May 1 -- was expected to throw approximately 75 pitches, but threw just 20, walking two batters in his scoreless frame. The right-hander flew to Charlotte, N.C., to meet the Triple-A Columbus Clippers to make what could’ve been his final rehab appearance.
Indians fans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Kluber suffered no setbacks with his arm.
Kluber’s potential return gave the Tribe more confidence in moving its former No. 2 starter, Trevor Bauer, at the Trade Deadline. Both Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti and general manager Mike Chernoff had been optimistic that the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner would be back in the rotation by the end of August.