Jason Kipnis Shut Down for 2 Weeks with Rotator Cuff Injury

Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis will be sidelined for the next two weeks due to an ailing shoulder. 

Per Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Indians manager Terry Francona announced Sunday Kipnis would be shut down with a strained right rotator cuff. 

Hoynes noted Francona also said Kipnis would not be ready when Cleveland opens the regular season on April 3 against the Texas Rangers.

Kipnis got a delayed start in spring training due to the shoulder problem. He appeared in back-to-back spring games on March 9 and 10 before being shutdown Sunday. 

Kipnis appeared in a career-high 156 games in 2016, and as a result, he set personal bests in home runs (23) and runs (91). His .469 slugging percentage was also his best since 2011, when he played in 36 games. 

For the most part, durability hasn't been a serious concern for Kipnis over his MLB career. He has appeared in 140-plus games in four of his first five seasons since becoming an everyday infielder for the Indians in 2012.

In order for the Indians to win a World Series in 2017, they'll almost certainly need Kipnis to continue that trend this season.

The Indians had to deal with Michael Brantley's difficulties recovering from shoulder surgery last season. He was limited to 11 games early in the season during Cleveland's run to the American League pennant. His presence will be a huge factor for the Indians this season, especially if Kipnis' absence extends deep into April. 

Although Jose Ramirez could move over to second base, the Indians would then need to find a new third baseman. Giovanny Urshela is a good defender but offers little offensively, while Erik Gonzalez had 21 at-bats in MLB entering the 2017 season.

As long as Kipnis can make a quick return, his absence won't be a significant problem for the Indians. Should he be forced to miss an extended period of time, on the other hand, Cleveland's AL title defense would be in serious jeopardy.