Cleveland Indians: Lonnie Chisenhall to open season on the DL

Cleveland Indians outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall is set to start the season with what will hopefully be a short stint on the disabled list.

The MLB regular season is less than a week away, but one Cleveland Indians player will have to wait a little longer to begin his 2017 season.

Lonnie Chisenhall opening the season on the DL is less than ideal, but it doesn’t appear to be anything major. If he is ready for the home opener, then this injury will be forgotten about as time goes on. That changes if 10 days turns into more, but let’s not speculate just yet.

While an injury is never fun, it is good news for Abraham Almonte, who makes the Opening Day roster after missing out last year because of a PED suspension. However, he may not be here for long if Chisenhall returns on time.

The team keeping Austin Jackson likely means he will be given a chance to prove himself, so this sets up Almonte as a player who may be sent down early in the season. He does have an option left, so it will likely be used.

The Indians could choose to keep all six outfielders, but it may be better to let Almonte play everyday in Columbus as opposed to having him ride the bench in Cleveland.

Tyler Naquin could also be sent down, but it seems like the team wants to give him a shot in center field, at least at the outset of the season.

Next: Breaking down the Opening Day bullpen

Yet as with Chisenhall, injuries will likely continue to pop up throughout the season. That is why it is great to see such depth in the organization, with that depth being reflected on the Opening Day roster.