Kenny Lofton’s speed isn’t confined to the basepaths or the gaps in center field.
He’s evidently a quick healer too.
Lofton, who was originally expected to be sidelined until the All-Star break after undergoing off-season shoulder surgery, was back in the Cleveland Indians’ lineup for the first time this spring Saturday.
And if his remarkable recuperative powers continue, he may be back in center field on Opening Day in Baltimore on April 3.
“I’d like to,” he said. “But it’s tough to say. I don’t want to have a setback between now and then.”
Batting in his familiar leadoff spot as the Indians’ designated hitter, Lofton went 1 for 3 with two walks and scored twice in Cleveland’s 7-3 win over the Tigers.
Facing C.J. Nitkowski, Lofton blooped a single to left field in his first at-bat and scored when Omar Vizquel doubled into the left-field corner.
He flied out to left in the second and walked and scored in the fourth on Manny Ramirez’s single. Lofton struck out in the fifth and after drawing a walk in the eighth he was thrown out trying to steal second–with a feet-first slide.
“It was good to be back on the big field,” said Lofton, who had been limited to a DH role.
