Major League Baseball

Indians CF Bourn could miss month with injury

Published Jul. 7, 2014 4:11 p.m. ET

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CLEVELAND (AP) Indians center fielder Michael Bourn could be sidelined for one month because of a strained left hamstring.

The team said an MRI taken on Monday confirmed a ''mild to moderate'' sprain and Bourn will miss at least three weeks. Bourn has had issues with the hamstring all season. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday.

Cleveland manager Terry Francona said Bourn will be out ''a little bit longer'' than originally thought. The team hoped Bourn would return soon after the All-Star break, but the MRI results have changed that plan.

''It was little more significant than Bournie hoped or we had all hoped,'' Francona said. ''It shows he's a pretty tough kid. He wanted to try to play this weekend. It more looks to be three to four weeks. You don't know, but that's what they project.''

Bourn had surgery on the hamstring in October following his first season with Cleveland. He began this year on the DL after having a setback in spring training.

Bourn was pulled from Saturday's game against Kansas City after he re-injured his leg while scoring from second base in the eighth inning.

''A lot of it will be determined by when we leave for the break, how he feels,'' Francona said. ''If he's starting to be pain-free, obviously it will be a little quicker.''

Bourn said Sunday his leg was sore and that he was frustrated by the latest setback. He's batting .267 with seven stolen bases and 37 runs scored in 66 games. Jason Kipnis will likely bat in the leadoff spot while Bourn is sidelined. All-Star Michael Brantley has moved from left field to center.

Bourn signed a four-year, $48 million contract before last season.

Outfielder Nyjer Morgan, who played center field when Bourn began the season on the DL, will seek a second opinion on his sprained right knee this week. Morgan was injured in May.