GLENDALE, Ariz. _ The Indians infield has already gone through enough turmoil this week with the announcements that Francisco Lindor and Jason Kipnis would both begin the season on the injured list. Now, all the Indians can do is hope and wait that Jose Ramirez doesn't join them.
Ramirez on Sunday fouled a ball off his leg in the Indians' Cactus League game against the Chicago White Sox. He immediately went down and stayed down as trainers and manager Terry Francona tended to him.
After a few minutes, Ramirez was carted off the field, his leg out-stretched on the cart. He was shaking his head as he left the stadium.
Ramirez has been diagnosed with a left knee contusion. The team announced the results of an X-Ray were negative and there was no timetable for his return.
The loss of Ramirez to this lineup for any extended period of time would be devastating. Already with a lineup that doesn't appear as deep on paper than in year's past, Ramirez is one of the linchpins to the Indians hoping to go further into October. His 14.6 fWAR ranks third in baseball behind only Mike Trout and Mookie Betts, and he finished each of the last two seasons as an American League MVP finalist.
