Major League Baseball

Indians' Chisenhall has broken nasal bone

Published Jul. 8, 2011 11:14 p.m. ET

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Lonnie Chisenhall is lucky. He just doesn't look it.

Chisenhall broke a nasal bone on the right side of his face when he was struck by a 90 mph fastball Thursday night, an injury that looked horrifying but turned out not to be as serious as feared. He may only miss a few games.

As his teammates took batting practice before Friday's game against Toronto, Chisenhall wore a pair of dark sunglasses as he pressed an ice pack on his swollen face and reclined on a leather couch in Cleveland's clubhouse. He was not available for comment.

''He looks like he's gone a couple rounds with Mike Tyson,'' Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff said. ''Otherwise he feels fine, which is a good thing.''

Chisenhall was drilled by Toronto's Carlos Villanueva, whose inside pitch in the second inning smashed off the right ear flap on Chisenhall's batting helmet, The ball ricocheted off and hit the rookie third baseman near his nose.

Chisenhall visited the Cleveland Clinic where an ear, nose and throat specialist, who confirmed a ''non-displaced maxillary sinus fracture,'' Soloff said.

Chisenhall was also seen by an ophthalmologist. Chisenhall's eye was not injured and he did not sustain a concussion. He missed playing time earlier this season at Triple-A Columbus because of a concussion he sustained while sliding.

The Indians only expect Chisenhall to be sidelined for a few days.

''As soon as the inflammation around his eye resolves, he'll be ready to play again,'' Soloff said. ''If he's not available in the next three days than he will be after All-Star break.''

Soloff said the club is exploring options for Chisenhall to wear a mask or a helmet with a protective bar when he returns.

Indians manager Manny Acta was relieved that the injury was not more serious.

''When I saw blood coming out of his nose and a scratch on his cheekbone where the ball hit the flap, I was worried,'' Acta said. ''I was thinking there was some kind of fracture and that is always dangerous. I'm very relieved there is no concussion because the kid just had one. But when I went out there, I could see that he knew what was going on and that wasn't a problem.''

Chisenhall, who was recalled from the Clippers on June 22, is batting .267 with one homer and two RBIs in nine games. The 21-year-old and former first-round pick in 2008 is considered the top hitting prospect in Cleveland's organization.

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