Indians eye Tuesday return for 3B Ramirez

Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez is likely to return Tuesday after missing a month due to a broken hand, manager Terry Francona said. Ramirez has been sidelined since suffering a broken hamate bone in his right hand Aug. 24. He underwent surgery two days later to repair the injury.

The Indians open a three-game series at Chicago against the White Sox on Tuesday. "It's not set in stone," Francona told reporters. "I think it's realistic."

The Indians began the regular season's final week tied with the Tampa Bay Rays for the second American League wild-card spot. Ramirez was hitting .254 with 20 homers and 75 RBIs when he was injured while fouling off a pitch from Kansas City Royals starter Glenn Sparkman.

Ramirez surged offensively in the season's second half, hitting .320 with nine homers and 25 RBIs in July and .321 with six homers and 20 RBIs in August. Although the initial prognosis estimated Ramirez would be out five-seven weeks, Francona said the team was not concerned about his run producer returning too soon.

"That was one of the things we actually asked," Francona said. "The only issue the medical people had was that the wound had to be closed. Well, that's been closed. No, he's OK."

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