Brantley begins his rehab tour in Niles

July 12, 2016 at 12:05a.m.

NILES

For Michael Brantley, the road back to Cleveland included a Monday pit stop at Eastwood Field.

Taking part in a rehab assignment, the Indians outfielder was in the second slot of the Mahoning Valley lineup and played left field in the Scrappers’ 6-5 loss to Tri-City. The game was played in front of 3,657 fans.

“I felt great, I’m happy to be out here playing baseball again,” Brantley said. “I’m 100 percent healthy.

“It’s a matter of how I recover now.”

Brantley underwent shoulder surgery last November. He played in 11 games for the Indians this season, hitting .231 (9-for-39) with two doubles and seven RBIs. He last played on May 9 before complications with his shoulder resurfaced. He was placed back on the disabled list on May 14.

Against Tri-City, Brantley went to the plate three times. He walked on five pitches in the first inning. An inning later, he popped out to center with the bases loaded to end the frame.

In the fourth inning, Brantley singled up the middle. He was removed from the game at the end of the fifth inning.

Defensively, Brantley recorded one out on a routine fly ball.

After the game, Brantley was cautious to predict his return, while confident in his progress.

“It’s going to take time,” Brantley said. “I understand that. Hitting is not very easy to do.

“Baseball is a hard game. It’s a game of adjustments. I look forward to making them as I continue this rehab process.”

His rehab will continue on Wednesday with Lake County, Cleveland’s full-season Class A team. He’ll play consecutive games this coming weekend at Akron (Class AA). Beyond that, he is uncertain and not willing to place a time frame on his return to the Indians lineup.

“Lord willing, I wake up in the morning and everything feels great with the plan we’re following this week,” Brantley said. “Beyond that, I don’t know yet.

“It’s more of a day-by-day basis of how I’m feeling,” the outfielder said. “I’m going to start playing some back-to-back games, getting my baseball legs underneath me.”

At the All-Star break, the Indians have a 52-36 record and own a 61/2-game lead in the Central Division. Brantley insists he has enjoyed watching the Indians enjoy success during his absence.

“I’m upset with having to miss time, but they are playing great and it is fun to watch,” Brantley said. “I’m a fan just like you guys are.

“I root them on as hard as all the fans do as. It would be really tough on me if they weren’t doing well. I’d be more upset, but as it is they are doing great and it is fun to watch.”

Brantley said a number of factors play into the Indians’ turnaround from a year ago.

“It’s a good group of guys in the locker room, there is good chemistry,” he said. “Everyone understands their role and I think that’s very important.

“They are going out there putting solid at-bats up and feeding off of each other,” Brantley said.

The ValleyCats (13-11) trailed 4-3 entering the ninth, but scored three runs to drop the Scrappers’ record to 6-18. Ryne Bird went 3-for-4 with three RBIs for the ValleyCats.

The Scrappers’ offense was paced by Erlin Cerda (3-for-5) and Nate Winfrey, who hit his first home run.

“It was fun being around these young guys,” Brantley said. “The thing was, they stretched for 20 minutes and was ready to go.

“I needed more time — I’m not as young.”