Kipnis expects to be OK after spraining ankle in ALCS celebration
Losing hurts, but winning can also be painful.
Jason Kipnis, the Cleveland Indians' veteran second baseman, is dealing with a low ankle sprain suffered while celebrating his club's pennant-clinching victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, manager Terry Francona said Sunday.
The 29-year-old sprained his ankle as he accidentally stepped on Francisco Lindor's foot while celebrating with the 22-year-old following Wednesday's 3-0 win at Rogers Centre.
Kipnis, who was on the field taking ground balls Sunday, expects to be ready when the Indians host the Chicago Cubs for Game 1 of the World Series at Progressive Field on Tuesday.
Got a little too close to @Lindor12BC during the celebration!! Freak accident but should be good to go by Tuesday! #cantkeepmeoutofthisgame! pic.twitter.com/2DKgpzP0lq
— Jason Kipnis (@TheJK_Kid) October 23, 2016
Through eight postseason games, Kipnis is hitting just .167/.219/.367 with seven strikeouts in 32 plate appearances, though the two-time All-Star cranked a solo shot off Rick Porcello in Game 1 of the ALDS, and another homer off Marcus Stroman in Game 3 of the League Championship Series.
Amazingly, Kipnis isn't the only player to suffer a mid-celebration injury this postseason, as Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin split his pinkie while high-fiving after his club's 5-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles in the AL Wild-Card game.