CLEVELAND -- While his team was getting ready for Tuesday's tilt with the Rays, Indians outfielder Michael Brantley flew to Dallas to be reexamined after feeling discomfort in his lower shoulder/bicep. He received a cortisone shot for what the Indians termed right biceps tendinitis.
This appears to be good news for the Tribe outfielder, who has been sidelined for most of the season with a shoulder injury. The fact that his soreness is coming from the bicep area as opposed to the shoulder is reason to be optimistic according to Cleveland manager Terry Francona.
"The examination went really well. Structurally sound," Francona said. "[His] biceps, that's where his soreness is coming from. Which in the grand scheme of things is great news."
Brantley had recently ramped up the intensity in his rehab and felt discomfort, which led to an MRI on his down day, Monday. The Indians then elected to send Brantley to Dallas to get a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister, who often works with the Rangers.
"Even though he was doing front-toss flips, the intensity was getting ramped up, and he felt some discomfort," Francona said. "So we put our heads together and went and got another MRI. Then we sent him to get a second opinion in Dallas. He was examined today, and he is still there."
Brantley is expected to fly back to Cleveland Tuesday night.
"I'm sure Brantley is thrilled," Francona said. "And if this is what it is, they can knock that out, and he will get back on the path of coming back. So of all things it could have been, this is great news."
Brantley started the season on the disabled list after undergoing shoulder surgery in the offseason. He came back on April 25 and played 11 games for the Tribe before going back on the disabled list with lingering discomfort in his shoulder.
This season, Brantley is hitting .231 (9-for-39) with seven RBIs in 11 games.
Noteworthy
• Cleveland catcher Roberto Perez is progressing as expected. He has been on the disabled list since May 6 after undergoing surgery for his right thumb. After spending the past weekend in Cleveland, Francona said Perez is in Arizona and has begun throwing and swinging a fungo bat.
• The Indians announced Tuesday afternoon the signing of five more Draft picks. Outfielder Conner Capel (5th round), infielder Ulysses Cantu (6th round), catcher Michael Tinsley (7th round), right-hander Andrew Lantrip (8th round), and catcher Gavin Gollins (13th round) all signed with the Tribe. Cleveland has signed 15 of its 41 Draft picks from the 2016 MLB Draft, including nine of 11 from the first 10 rounds.