Shin-Soo Choo will return to Cleveland on Sunday and have his broken thumb looked at by Cleveland Clinic Dr. Thomas Graham on Monday. Choo thinks that surgery will probably be necessary, and there is a good chance that Choo will miss at least six weeks and possibly many more.
According to this story via Cleveland.com, Choo also needed two to three stitches to close a cut on his left thumb caused by the hit-by-pitch from San Francisco's Jonathan Sanchez.
"I feel bad for the team because I can't help," said Choo. "This is the same as in 2007 when we went to the postseason and I couldn't help because I had Tommy John surgery. I've been thinking about that a lot."
The break is probably a displaced fracture, which almost invariably requires surgery.
Travis Buck, recalled yet again from Columbus, and Austin Kearns will platoon in right field in Choo's absence.
"We're looking at our options externally and internally," Indians' manager Manny Acta said. "Right now it's tough to make a deal because a lot of teams are still in it."