Last month general manager Chris Antonetti expressed confidence that Carlos Santana would be ready for spring training following season-ending knee surgery in early August and today the Indians announced that he’s officially been cleared to resume all baseball activities.
Santana suffered a gruesome-looking knee injury in a home plate collision on August 2, but met yesterday with a doctor and is slated to begin baserunning and other agility drills when pitchers and catchers report to camp next week.
Prior to the injury Santana was having one of the most impressive rookie seasons by a catcher in baseball history and if healthy the 25-year-old switch-hitter is capable of emerging as one of the game’s elite all-around backstops this season. Had he not exhausted his Rookie of the Year eligibility by 20 at-bats, Santana would likely have cracked the top five in just about every prominent prospect ranking for 2011.
