Aviles expected to return to Tribe on Monday
Utility man has been away from team to be with daughter being treated for leukemia
ARLINGTON -- Indians manager Terry Francona said that utility man Mike Aviles is expected to return to the team Monday. Aviles was placed on the Family Medical Emergency List on May 8 so he could be with his 4-year-old daughter, Adriana, who was being treated for leukemia in Cleveland.
"I talked to him this morning," Francona said. "I think he feels good to go. He's been at the ballpark working out."
The Indians begin a four-game series on the road against the White Sox on Monday and are set to face four left-handed starting pitchers. That could bode well for the right-handed-hitting Aviles, a career .276 hitter against southpaws.
Aviles is batting .288 with a .373 on-base percentage and 11 runs in 18 games this season. He has made 12 starts this year - six at shortstop, three in left field, two at third and one in center. Current starting shortstop Jose Ramirez is batting .172 this season and has just one hit in 27 at-bats against left-handers this season.
Worth noting
• Francona was encouraged by left-hander TJ House's rehab start Friday for Low-A Lake County. House, who is currently on the 15-day disabled list with left elbow inflammation, allowed just one hit in three scoreless innings, striking out five and walking none. He will make his next rehab start for Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday and is expected to pitch five innings.
• Francona was also pleased with catcher Yan Gomes, who began his rehab assignment Friday in Lake County. Gomes is on the 15-day disabled list with a right knee sprain and went 2-for-2 with a pair of line drive singles to left. Francona said he looked good in drills with catching coordinator Scooter Tucker before the game. Gomes will get three at-bats at designated hitter with Lake County before taking the day off Sunday and catching Monday.
• Francona on Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre, who hit his 400th career home run Friday and who he managed in 2010: "He is one of the ultimate gamers in our game. You can't keep him off the field and I mean that in a good way. Besides the obvious talent, there's another part of him. Everyone that's ever been around him respects him… I haven't looked at it like the guys that vote [for the Hall of Fame] do. But 400 home runs and a [four-time] Gold Glover, that's probably going to be an easy one."