Goodyear, AZ – Grady Sizemore is hurt yet again.
The oft-injured center fielder has a strained lower back and the Cleveland Indians believe he is unlikely to be ready in time for on Opening Day. Sizemore, who spent the offseason rehabbing a right knee injury suffered in May, injured his back during fielding drills.
Prior to the latest setback, Sizemore was hitting and throwing without any restrictions. The club has shut him down, and did not provide a timetable for his return to workouts.
Cleveland declined Sizemore's $9 million club option in late October before re-signing him to a one-year, incentive-laden contract with a $5 million base.
The 29-year-old opened the 2011 season on the disabled list after having microfracture surgery on his left knee. He then suffered a pair of contusions to the other knee and also had surgery to repair a sports hernia. He played just 71 games overall, batting. 224 with 10 homers.
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