DETROIT — The first thing that can be expected from Francisco Lindor is a haircut.
Cleveland placed designated hitter Nick Swisher on the disabled list Sunday and called up Lindor from Triple-A Columbus, and the flashy rookie shortstop indicated a high priority item is getting rid of his hair.
Lindor, 21, noted he would get his head shaved to go along with teammates who are supporting utility player Mike Aviles, whose 4-year-old daughter Adriana has leukemia.
Manager Terry Francona paid professional respect to Swisher before talking about Lindor. Swisher had an injection in his bad left knee during the week and is going to get another one Monday.
“We had a long talk the other day,” Francona said of Swisher. “I told him this is not an indictment of your … work ethic. He played the other day and he wasn’t pleased with the way he was moving.”
Lindor is one of the top-rated minor league prospects and has been for a couple of years. His advancement was slowed because he experienced some hitting troubles plus some problems with lapses of concentration on the field.
“I got a note recently (from the Triple-A manager Chris Tremie) about how hard he was working. Pregame, during games,” Francona said. “We all see his tools. He’s just more ready to help here. He’s just 21.
“We told him there are no expectations. All we want him to do is his job.”
Lindor said, “Instead of working hard, I worked harder.”
The plan was for Lindor to be told by Tremie he was being called up, a little reward for all the times Tremie has to relay bad news to players. However, Columbus got caught in a rain delay, and Francona’s text to Lindor got to the player before the minor league manager could.
In 58 games for Columbus this season, Lindor hit .281 with a .348 on-base percentage, a .399 slugging percentage, two homers, 22 RBIs and nine stolen bases.
Lindor didn’t start Sunday, but he came off the bench and went 1-for-2 in his debut during the Indians’ 8-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers. His family, most of whom were with him in Columbus, plan to be in Chicago on Monday in hopes he will make his first major league start against the Cubs.