Cleveland Indians All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez was carted off the field Sunday after fouling a pitch off his left knee.
The switch-hitter was batting right-handed in the third inning of an exhibition game against the Chicago White Sox in Goodyear, Ariz.
Ramirez immediately dropped to the dirt and remained down for several minutes before being assisted to the medical cart.
The team called it a left knee contusion and said Ramirez was being taken for X-rays.
Ramirez, 26, entered the game batting .240 with one homer and six RBIs in 19 spring training games.
Regardless of Ramirez’s status, Cleveland will be short-handed when it opens the season Thursday at Minnesota. Second baseman Jason Kipnis and shortstop Francisco Lindor will begin the campaign on the injured list.
Ramirez was third in the American League Most Valuable Player voting in each of the past two seasons.
He batted .318 with a league-leading 56 doubles in 2017 and batted .270 with 39 homers and 105 RBIs — both career highs — in 2018. He has played at least 152 games in each of the past three seasons.
