Cleveland Indians: Danny Salazar improves in latest rehab start

Danny Salazar had his best rehab outing to date as he continues to work toward returning to the Cleveland Indians’ starting rotation.

While Cleveland Indians fans were focused on last night’s MLB All-Star Game, Danny Salazar was making a rehab start in short-season Single-A Mahoning Valley.

Oh how things change.

Salazar was an All-Star in 2016 and is now just looking to make a return to the starting rotation. The rehab start was his third this month, and the first one below Double-A.

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His final numbers are much better than what we have seen in his first two rehab starts, but it is hard to declare him to be back to his old self. Someone with his background should be able to not give up any runs against the competition he was up against.

The only way for the team to know if he is back to his old self is for him to make a start at the major league level, and it seems he will be given another opportunity. As long as he is healthy, Terry Francona has to believe Salazar can still be a weapon.

One thing holding him back this year was soreness in his shoulder, and an article by Joe Gerberry of WFNY explains that Salazar was feeling pain since the start of the season. That easily explains why Salazar was struggling, and why he looked like a completely different pitcher than the one who made the All-Star Game a year ago.

So forget his numbers in these rehab starts, the most important thing is that Salazar returns to the team with no more soreness in his shoulder. Five strong innings, even in Single-A, is the first positive sign Salazar has displayed in quite some time and his current schedule could mean the Indians plan to bring him back soon.

Next: Indians shine in All-Star Game

His return won’t be permanent until he proves he deserves a full-time spot, but a healthy Danny Salazar should be able to find his way back to being a meaningful member of this Cleveland Indians team.