CLEVELAND, Ohio — Rookie reliever Emmanuel Clase is the latest Cleveland Indians pitcher to be sidelined in spring training as the club awaits the results of an MRI exam on his sore back.
Clase, the centerpiece of an offseason trade that sent two-time Cy Young Award-winning starter Corey Kluber to the Rangers, has been trying since late last week to work through what the club says is a minor issue with his latissimus dorsi, the V-shaped muscle that connects the arm to the spinal column.
General Manager Mike Chernoff told reporters in Goodyear, Ariz., on Wednesday that Clase got through his throwing program on Tuesday and still felt discomfort in his lat.
"I believe he completed the throwing program, but then we examined him after that and got him imaged (MRI) just as a precaution to see what’s going on,” Chernoff said.
An update on Clase’s status could come late Wednesday or early Thursday, Chernoff said.
Cleveland is already without starters Mike Clevinger (knee surgery), Carlos Carrasco (mild right hip flexor strain) and Aaron Civale (sore groin). Chernoff said Wednesday that Clevinger has progressed to throwing weighted balls on the sidelines, but nothing has changed on his projected 6-8 week recovery timeframe.
Clase, 21, was scheduled to pitch for the Indians in Monday’s 12-8 exhibition loss to Colorado, but did not make the trip to Salt River Fields.
In 2019, Clase made 21 appearances for Texas, carrying a 2.31 ERA with 21 strikeouts. He allowed two home runs, six walks and a 1.11 WHIP in 23 1/3 innings. His average fastball velocity was 99.2 mph.
When pitchers and catchers reported to Goodyear, Clase’s early throwing sessions wowed Indians coaches, including manager Terry Francona.
“He was throwing 100 mph bowling balls,” Francona said. “Just watching him, without much effort, that ball was coming out and it was going this way and this way. It was heavy. It looked like it was really heavy.”
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