MILWAUKEE — There is no timetable or an exact date yet, but Nick Swisher is starting to work his way back to the Cleveland Indians.
The veteran designated hitter played in his second rehab game for Class A Lake County on Tuesday, walking twice and scoring a run while playing five innings in right field for the Captains.
He went 2-for-3 with two singles and a run in his rehab debut Monday night.
“It’s not surprising,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “He was all revved up, and he’s been working hard. The big challenge is start going back to back and him bouncing back.”
After undergoing double knee surgery during the winter, Swisher has played in only 30 games this season. Francona hopes the rehab assignment will not just get Swisher back in the lineup, but also make him strong enough to play some in the outfield.
“When you have a guy that is just restricted to DHing, it makes it hard for everybody,” Francona said. “He understands that.”
Swisher, 34, is in his 12th major league season and third with the Indians under a four-year, $56 million contract signed prior to the 2013 season.
He hit a career-low .208 in 97 games last season and was batting .198 with two home runs and eight RBIs when he landed on the disabled list June 14 — his second DL stint of the season.