Joey Bart, Ji Hwan Bae and Martin Perez are all scheduled to suit up and play for Class AAA Indianapolis this weekend. Derek Shelton said Bart (thumb) and Bae (wrist) will both begin rehab assignments with the Indians tonight, while Perez (groin) will start Saturday's game against Iowa. Bart is expected to be the designated hitter tonight before catching for Perez Saturday.
"We just kind of figured one rehab start, two rehab starts -- wherever we're going to go with it -- but he needed a rehab start to get out and work through it," Shelton said of Perez, who last pitched May 26 and departed after three innings against the Braves at PNC Park.
"From a medical perspective, we're mostly concerned that he comes out healthy and clean," Todd Tomczyk said Friday. "Then you have the element of performance, then you have the element with Shelty and Ben and most important Martin, how he felt. If he feels that, knowing him, he'll probably have a really good outing and be able to say 'yes, I'm ready to go and get major-league hitters out.' So from a health perspective, this is a very important step that he's facing hitters again, that he's facing competition. We'll reassess him after, we'll reassess him on Sunday as well and see how he recovered and responded and then we'll have those conversations with Derek and the pitching group to see if another (rehab start) is needed."
Perez went 1-3 with a 4.71 ERA and 1.55 WHIP through his first 11 starts of the season, striking out 46 batters and walking 19 in 57 1/3 innings. He was at his best in April when he posted three quality starts and registered a 2.97 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in five outings.
"Getting him back in the rotation is important for us," Shelton said. "He was a big acquisition for us this offseason."
Henry Davis and Quinn Priester are among the other notable big-league players on the injured list. Tomczyk said Davis remains in concussion protocol and is taking part in most baseball activities.
"We anticipate him being in the protocol through the weekend, as he continues to work through some mild signs and symptoms," Tomczyk said. "He's making progress, which is most important.
"He's not doing a lot of high-level catching, high-level exertional activities yet. He is hitting. He's playing catch. He just came out of running the bases. He's catching bullpens but that next level of exertion is not there yet."
Priester (lat muscle) threw a live BP in Indianapolis today and is expected to remain there through next week before ultimately beginning a rehab start.
• Ryan Borucki (triceps inflammation) and Marco Gonzales (forearm muscle strain) threw a two-up and a one-up live batting practice, respectively. Tomczyk said they both initially felt good, looked good, ball was coming out good and the next steps are to be determined. Those next steps will either be another live BP or consideration for rehab games.
• Hunter Stratton (triceps strain) has not resumed throwing yet. He is doing some advanced plyometric work, which is usually the precursor prior to beginning throwing, Tomczyk said. The club is hopeful Stratton will resume playing catch early next week.
• Endy Rodriguez (elbow) has started playing catch and is now hitting from both the right and left sides of the plate with no issues.
• Johan Oviedo (elbow) and Dauri Moreta (elbow) are continuing to be very diligent and making progress down in Florida.
• Mike Burrows (elbow) began a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League on Monday. His next step will include a start for Class A Bradenton early next week.
"Yeah it's exciting to talk about him," Tomczyk said. "I actually spoke with him the other day, he's excited about his progress. He's actually throwing against another uniform, which is really cool right? In the FCL games and then his next step, he's going to make another start for the Maruader team. Everything is going, we talk about linear rehabs a lot, no rehab is really linear, meaning there's always bumps in the road, but this one has been really smooth. He's done a great job and it's really cool to see him back out there."
Burrows' workload will be a part of an ongoing discussion, Tomczyk said.
"I really think it's going to be, first and foremost, what's best for Michael and the organization, both short and long term, and then needs assessment as well," Tomczyk added. "But health is of the utmost importance. We'd like to gradually build up that capacity for this year so next year there are no restrictions."
