Jody

Gerut

Gerut’s injury is minor, and he’s day-to-day.

Gerut has an 883 OPS, which is an improvement over his breakthrough season last year. So far he’s proving his detractors wrong.

The streak is the longest in the American League so far this season, and second longest in the majors behind Danny Bautista’s 21 gamer for Arizona. Gerut now sits with a .304 batting average and .907 OPS, along with a healthy 17/20 K/BB ratio. He is turning into a solid fantasy outfielder.

''Jody will be progressing to land-based agility drills over the next two weeks,’' trainer Lonnie Soloff said. ''Up to now, he’s been running on a treadmill. Now he will do things on land. He can run straight ahead, laterally and start and stop, as if he were playing the outfield.’' Gerut would probably spend a full month in the minors before being activated. He might return as a fourth outfielder.

“I’m starting to run,” Gerut said. “I’d like to be back at some point in May, but time and circumstance will dictate that. No matter how good it feels when you get a new ligament, it takes at least six months for it to become part of you.” Gerut may only be Cleveland’s fourth outfieler after returning.

Manager Eric Wedge is going to have to work to find at-bats for Gerut when Bradley is healthy, but with many Cleveland hitters struggling and Gerut able to play all three outfield positions, he should continue to have some value as a reserve.

Manager Eric Wedge wanted to give Coco Crisp the day off and felt Gerut was his next best option. This won’t be a permanent change.

Gerut is recovering from a torn rotator cuff. Ideally, the Indians could take some pressure off him by shifting him to left. However, Matt Lawton has also had shoulder problems and probably is no longer an option in right. Expect teams to do a lot of running on the Indians outfielders this year.

Gerut, who tore his rotator cuff last season, doesn’t expect to have problems with the shoulder. “When I came to camp, the shoulder was about 75 percent,” Gerut said. “Now it’s at 95 percent. I feel fine.” We’re still concerned.

Jody Gerut hyperextended his right knee on Sunday, but looked fine in drills yesterday. This shouldn’t be anything to worry about.