Mon, Jul 06 2009
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Published August 15, 2008 01:22 am - CLEVELAND — Travis Hafner paid a visit to Pronkville on Thursday. Tribe Notebook: Pronk takes another step to returning JOSH WEIR Canton Repository CLEVELAND — Travis Hafner paid a visit to Pronkville on Thursday.
Of course, Hafner’s home run into the mezzanine seats at Progressive Field came close to four hours before game time, off first base coach Luis Rivera. Hafner took batting practice on the field Thursday for the first time since going on the disabled list May 30 with a bum right shoulder. “Getting on the field, even at 3 in the afternoon, was a blast,” Hafner said. “I was swinging a bat, which is what I do. It’s what I’ve always done. I can’t remember going so long without hitting. One year when I was in the minors, I started getting ready for spring training on Nov. 1.” Cleveland manager Eric Wedge was encouraged by the session. “He looked strong and felt good,” Wedge said. “It’s more about how he feels. There’s going to be some soreness along the way because of the repetition he hasn’t had in awhile, not just in his shoulder, just in general. You can expect that.” Hafner will take BP again on Saturday. Wedge is hopeful Hafner can start a rehab assignment next week. Hafner’s mysterious condition, which has limited him to four home runs in 157 at-bats this season, completely sapped the strength from his right shoulder. He spent the past two and a half months building his strength back up. Wedge was asked if the shoulder problem will be something that the 31-year-old Hafner must keep tabs on for the rest of his career. “I think he’s going to have to stay on top of it and make it part of his program,” Wedge said. “He’s worked so hard to build that strength back up, the last thing you want to do is let it work the other direction.” n PRECIOUS PT — Josh Barfield started a rehab assignment Thursday night at Double-A Akron. With Asdrubal Cabrera back and playing well at second base, Jhonny Peralta at short and Andy Marte in audition-mode at third base, Wedge was asked about where Barfield fits in when he returns. Barfield only plays second base. “I’m not sure how we’re going to make that all work when we get all these guys back ... but we’ll do the best we can,” Wedge said. n MORE ON JOSH — The Indians shipped 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff and RHP Andrew Brown to San Diego in November 2006 for Barfield, who had batted .280 with 13 home runs and 58 RBI that season. He batted .243 for the Tribe in 2007 before Cabrera supplanted him for the stretch run. Barfield is hitless in six at-bats this season at the big-league level, spending the first two months in Triple-A Buffalo then injuring his left middle finger soon after being recalled. “He’s a guy who has everyday-ability if he puts it all together,” Wedge said. n INKED UP — The Indians signed RHP Zach Putnam out of the University of Michigan on Thursday. The Indians chose Putnam — ranked by Baseball America as the 50th-best prospect in the June First-Year Player Draft — in the fifth round, 171st overall. Assuming second round-pick RHP Trey Haley passes his physical today, the Indians will have signed their top 10 picks. Today is the deadline to sign draft picks. ... The Indians also signed C Roberto Perez (33rd round), RHP Edwin Burns (39th round) and OF Tim Palincsar (40th round) on Thursday. 
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