Salazar gives switch-hitting a try to protect arm
Swisher making progress on rehab assignment; Hagadone visiting Dr. Andrews
MILWAUKEE -- Indians manager Terry Francona likes versatility in his lineup. With an affinity for switch-hitters, maybe it should come as no surprise that pitcher Danny Salazar tried his hand batting from both sides of the plate during Tuesday's Interleague tilt against the Brewers.
Well, maybe Salazar should not be considered a switch-hitter just yet.
"Switch non-hitter," Francona said with a chuckle. "He's so bad. He is, and he knows it. He's terrible."
Salazar, who used to only bat from the left side for Interleague games, hit from the right side in his first at-bat in Tuesday's 8-1 loss. Francona said he and hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo asked Salazar to bat right-handed so his right arm -- his throwing arm -- was not exposed during the plate appearance.
"They wanted me to protect my arm," Salazar said.
Salazar finished his latest attempt by going 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts. He went down swinging right-handed in the third inning on Tuesday and then went down on a fouled bunt attempt on an 0-2 count in the fifth inning. Salazar is more comfortable bunting from the left side, so he stuck with that in the batter's box for that trip to the plate.
"When pitchers that don't hit, when they go up there and have a good at-bat, it kind of amazes me," Francona said. "And then you see Danny. He just has a good arm, because wow."
Worth noting
• Veteran Nick Swisher (15-day disabled list with knee issues) went 0-for-1 with two walks and played the outfield in a Minor League rehab assignment with Class A Lake County on Tuesday. Francona said Swisher "moved around really well" in right field. Swisher was scheduled to rest on Wednesday before picking up his rehab assignment with Double-A Akron on Thursday. He is slated to man the outfield for the RubberDucks.
• Reliever Nick Hagadone (15-day DL) was scheduled to meet with renowned arm specialist Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday to have his injured left elbow examined. Cleveland has stayed away from details about the extent of the injury, but it is possible that Hagadone will need surgery on the joint. The left-hander underwent Tommy John surgery as a Minor Leaguer in 2008.