CLEVELAND � For Michael Brantley, the 2016 season will essentially be lost.
Indians manager Terry Francona said that Brantley will have season-ending surgery on Monday in Texas. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Kevin Meister and Indians head team physician Dr. Mark Schickendantz. Further details and a time�table for his return have not yet been released.
Brantley has been on the disabled list for the entire season, apart from a brief 11-game return in May, while rehabbing from offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right (nonthrowing) shoulder. In June, he was diagnosed with biceps tendinitis. In July, he underwent an outpatient procedure to remove scar tissue from his shoulder.
Lately, Brantley had been experiencing symptoms indicative of chronic biceps tendinitis, which derailed yet another attempt to return to the lineup.
It'll be the third procedure and second major surgery for Brantley in the past 10 months. He's also received two anti-inflammatory shots in that time. Brantley injured his shoulder diving for a ball on Sept. 22 in Minnesota and then underwent the initial surgery on Nov. 9.
Brantley was expected to miss roughly the first month of the season and return around early May. Now, after a year of setbacks, his upcoming procedure Monday will end his 2016 season.
He'll set his sights on a return in 2017.
"I guess I figure that all the work, it'll pay off somewhere," Francona said. "It may not be this season, but I don't think those things go unrewarded. I just think that he'll come back, and he'll find a way to be as good as ever. I firmly believe that, because I believe in him. I get a front row seat to see how hard he works and things like that."
Brantley repeatedly tried to ramp up his workload, only to feel discomfort or soreness in his shoulder or biceps. The pain appeared once that workload was increased. As the Indians view it, simple rest beyond what was called for wouldn't have done the trick.
"He was going to that (pitching) machine, and he was cranking it up," Francona said. "Like, you'd walk in there and see him hit and you're like, 'Man, he can play tonight.' But then, when he got off the live pitching is when he felt it. So, you can't just stop him and say rest, because then he could go through the whole winter and feel great, and then they start playing the games in spring training, and it'd crop up again. That was a lot of the dilemma in this thing."
Brantley has been a crucial piece to the middle of the Indians lineup and was a Most Valuable Player finalist in 2014, hitting .327 with 20 home runs, 45 doubles and 97 RBI. Last season he hit .310 with 15 home runs, 45 doubles and 84 RBI. He totaled 10 WAR in those two seasons combined, per FanGraphs, the third-best mark among left fielders.
The Indians have operated this entire season with the prospect of Brantley returning. With that now gone, they'll continue on with Rajai Davis, Tyler Naquin, Lonnie Chisenhall, Brandon Guyer and Abraham Almonte in the outfield. Almonte, due to his suspension for a failed drug test, is not eligible for postseason play.
"Well, I mean, I think (the front office guys are) always keeping their eyes open," Francona said. "But, we've basically played without him this year, so we'll just keep playing. That's what we always do."
CLEAR EYES
Carlos Santana has been "completely cleared" to play after he was struck with a hard-hit foul ball in the head during Thursday's game. He was not diagnosed with a concussion, but the club wanted him to go through additional tests and exercises.
He's expected to return to the starting lineup on Sunday.
RETURNING SOON
Indians starting pitcher Danny Salazar threw a short bullpen session _ 15 pitches _ and will throw another on Sunday.
Salazar is returning from elbow inflammation, which forced him to the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 2. Salazar could return to the Indians' rotation sometime next week.
"He's doing fine," Francona said. "When (it's) his day to pitch, he'll be ready, and we'll figure out when we want to plug him in and what we want to do behind him, things like that."
Salazar was hit hard in his several starts prior to being placed on the disabled list. He was a Cy Young contender in the first half and hopes to return to that level.
"Sometimes it's not just a peace of mind. Sometimes your elbow hurts," Salazar said.
"When you go out there you know it hurts and sometimes your body, even though you're trying to do something different, your body holds you back a little bit, so you feel pain-free. That's what I think. I think right now I'm really positive to throw another bullpen tomorrow, full bullpen, curveball, slider, change-up, fastball, and then just set up a day to be back on the mound."
