Indians: Jason Kipnis back on the DL
By Bill Pivetz
Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis finds himself back on the 10-day DL. With a return time of 3-4 weeks, can he eventually get back to form?
The Cleveland Indians aren’t in the same situation they were last season. Even with injuries and poor performances, the team sits at 47-39 with a three-game lead in the American League Central. The second half may get off to a rocky start as second baseman Jason Kipnis was placed on the 10-day DL.
Kipnis was diagnosed with a strained right hamstring. He left after the third inning when he tried to beat out a ground ball. Some reports say that the injury isn’t serious, but Buster Olney tweeted something to the contrary.
ICYMI: Jason Kipnis strained his hamstring Saturday, and could be out 3-4 weeks.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 10, 2017
Kipnis started the season on the DL with a sore right shoulder. He returned on April 21 but he hasn’t been the same since coming back. He’s also been dealing with a stiff neck throughout the season.
At the end of May, Kipnis was hitting .229/.259/.400 with six home runs 20 RBI and 14 runs scored. He also had a 30:6 K:BB ratio in 147 plate appearances. June wasn’t any better for Kipnis.
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He hit .244 with two home runs, five RBI and 13 runs. Kipnis also had 14 strikeouts and 12 walks. he was looking a little more patient at the plate, giving him a .333 OBP last month.
Kipnis recorded just five hits in 24 at-bats this month, .208 average. Without going further, it’s been a bad first half for Kipnis. As a 12th round pick, fantasy owners were expecting a lot more out of their starting second baseman once he returned from injury.
However, this could be a blessing in disguise for Kipnis. I’m not a doctor, but I think the extra time off will allow his shoulder and neck to right itself and he’ll be close to or at 100 percent when he’s eligible to return.
If you are looking for a replacement second baseman, Scooter Gennett is continuing with the power as he has five home runs and nine RBI in his last 45 at-bats. He’s available in 37 percent of ESPN leagues. Chicago Cubs’ prospect Ian Happ is also crushing the ball.
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For the Kipnis owners out there, this is just another hurdle for him this season. There isn’t much you can do to get something back for him. He isn’t performing well enough to away. If you do find a trade partner, you’ll be selling him for pennies on the dollar. The best you can do is wait for his return and hopefully, he has a better second half.