The struggling Cleveland Indians have injected some speed into their lineup, promoting outfield prospect Oscar Mercado from the minors.
Mercado was recalled from Triple-A Columbus and will make his major league debut Tuesday afternoon against the Chicago White Sox. He will bat sixth in the lineup and start in left field.
The Indians placed outfielder Tyler Naquin on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding roster move. Naquin, who is batting .278 with one home run, has been hampered by a left calf strain.
Mercado, 24, is batting .294 with four homers in 30 games for Columbus this season and leads the International League with 14 stolen bases. He had 37 stolen bases last season in 132 combined games for the Indians’ and St. Louis Cardinals‘ Triple-A affiliates.
The Indians have lost six of their past nine games and enter Tuesday with a .219 team batting average and .643 team OPS — both tied for worst in the American League.