The Indians suffered a potentially significant blow Friday, as outfielder Tyler Naquin was removed on a cart after making a catch at the outfield wall (video via Dawn Klemish of MLB.com). It has been announced as a right-knee sprain, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets, but that’s only a preliminary assessment.
Manager Terry Francona told Klemish and others after the game, which the Indians lost 4-0, that it’s too soon to “play doctor.” However, Francona added that “it didn’t look good, and we’re very concerned.”
Naquin, the 15th overall pick in 2012, burst on the scene as a rookie in 2016, but injuries and underperformance have largely weighed him down since then. He has reestablished himself as a capable big league hitter this season, though, with a .288/.325/.467 line and 10 home runs in 294 plate appearances. The 28-year-old has performed even better in the outfield, combining for 8 Defensive Runs Saved and an 8.3 Ultimate Zone Rating among all three positions.
Naquin’s output this year has been worth 1.4 fWAR, which leads an Indians outfield that hasn’t received high-end numbers from anyone. Trade deadline acquisitions Yasiel Puig and Franmil Reyes (primarily a DH) haven’t been all that impactful to this point. Rookie Oscar Mercado has slowed down significantly since an encouraging start. Greg Allen hasn’t hit, nor has Jake Bauers (who has been in the minors all month). Worsening matters, Jordan Luplow – the most productive hitter among Indians outfielders this year – has been on the IL since Aug. 5 with a strained hamstring.
Adding up all of the above highlights Naquin’s importance to Cleveland, whose position player group just took an enormous hit last weekend when third baseman Jose Ramirez suffered a fractured hamate bone in his right hand. The club’s still in possession of the AL’s No. 1 wild-card spot by half a game, but if Naquin heads to the IL, its lineup will be down three regular contributors.
Bring up Johnson.
Nice to see how much you care about your guys health. Then again this is the same fanbase that does racist hand to mouth motions at the Native Americans protesting their logo.
I watched the game tonight. It hurt just seeing it, but he was man enough to stand with assistance.
Maybe you could learn from Tyler what it means to be a real man, and stop crying about a caricature. And by the way, I myself have never witnessed an Indians fans do what you say. But I’m sure the tribe of Pontiac indians did it as they slaughtered the women and children who were my ancestors, as they marched towards Detroit.
What an awful and unneeded response
Such an ignorant comeback. I hope the Indians make it to the play in game, build a 4 run lead and just absolutely blow it in the 9th inning. Then never make the playoffs in your lifetime again.
And your response doesn’t come off as ignorant…….just hateful.
Opinions are like…….
You are an idiot…its called a freak accident. Why bring race into it? IL happen daily to a team so stop your raindance & be a real MLB fan.
“Why bring race into it”. You do realize that we’re discussing a team whose nickname is based on a race of people? The irony.
You know, it’s funny, and strange, to contemplate who came up with team nicknames in the olden days. I mean, why no “New York White Boys” to make it all complete?
I like the Japanese style of naming your team after a smelly, ugly fish, like the Hiroshima Carp, myself
New York Giants were named after really big tough white dudes. They are extinct now.
Race is the go to for people who have no life and like to start social media spats. Probably an unemployed high school drop out.
Frisco complaining about the hand to mouth motions. NIIIICE
Take your antifa crap somewhere else.
Stop giving words power.
You’re the one who decides if something offends you.
You give it the power to offend you.
I doubt Cleveland picked that name with the intent of causing harm.
I’m personally getting tired of living in this society with everyone offended over everything.
When in reality 99% of those offended and making an issue have no right to be offended or be making an issue
Get some thicker skin folks
OH NO. is folks ageist? Will older folks riot now?
Gtfo
If our sports teams didnt celebrate this culture, would people today know who they are?
What you’re actually tired of is living in a society where people call you out on your BS when you use hurtful language. I know it’s tough to admit the world doesn’t revolve your ideas of right and wrong, but it might be time to stop being so lazy with your words and start coming around to the idea that it’s ok to listen to how other people feel.
No. What you’ve done is inferred my opinion based on your own.
Do I want racism to be a thing? Of course not
Do I want to hear about rasict nonsense in a report over someone’s health. Also no.
Weak minded snowflakes are killing human to human interactions now
It’s sad. Very very sad
Well said!
This comment section about sums up the new generation to a “T”. Gotta twist everything so there’s always a victim to be played.. Puke
This is the gold standard of comments!!!
How about we all get our politics out of the game! Most people watch sports and entertainment to get away from ignorant people that everything offends them or hurts their little feelings. Get a life and get the hell over a team calling themselves an Indian or anything else. It’s just childish and pathetic for anyone to get offended when the Native Americans could really care less! Maybe the next expansion franchise will be called “crackers”! Let’s see if anyone rages over that!
The people who are sensitive to everything else would just say “they deserve it because they’re privileged…” Blah blah nobody cares about your wittle bitty feelers getting hurt, grow up and get out of that safe space of yours crammed with your emotional hippopotamus.
Are the Braves on yet?!? Oops, just offended someone again..
I get the feeling a few Cleveland fans knew some Braves fans would be sharking around.
Not to change the topic, but has anyone heard any updates on Naquin’s knee? SMH
Exactly.
Team is saying a knee sprain. Had an MRI last night, so there should be more about it today. The way he landed before hitting the wall, I’d have thought an ACL/MCL injury.
They said sprain but what I read was it’s serious and he’s probably done for the year so it may be an ACL/MCL.
And torn ACL it is…
Can anyone stay healthy on this team?
On a side note, the only people I see who are offended by Chief Wahoo are self-righteous white people who think they’re supposed to be offended.
As imposed by the DNC=Media
Slow day at the trailer park, eh pal?
Actually it’s a pretty busy, I’ve got your mom cleaning the septics in the whole park. Hope that lazy a&& hurry’s up, I’ve got to launch a torpedo.
Trailer Park? Have you got something against people in a trailer park? Do you look down on people from trailer parks? Do you feel you are better than them? Hey, not everyone can live in their mom’s basement.
How Joe Biden of you…
You never hear of anybody offended by the state of Oklahoma which literally means red people.
Could have sworn winter is 3 months away yet, but the triggered snowflakes are falling early..wahhhhh
At least Luplow is finally ready to return, and he was going to get Naquin’s at-bats against lefties anyway. This probably opens an opportunity for Jake Bauers to return. Bradley Zimmer is finally healthy again too, but he didn’t show much offensively on his rehab assignment. Daniel Johnson seems unlikely since there’s no open spot on the 40-man roster, although they might be ready to pull the plug on Danny Salazar, so they could release him or transfer him on the 60-day IL to open a spot (his Tribe career will be over in another month regardless)..
it’s too soon to “play doctor.”
It’s never too soon to play doctor.