Franmil Reyes hasn't played in nearly a month due to an internal oblique strain. David Dermer-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland slugger Franmil Reyes ahead of schedule in rehab from oblique strain?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Jun 16, 2021 7:25 PM ET

Cleveland designated hitter and slugger Franmil Reyes hasn't played in nearly a month and was ruled out for at least five weeks of action on May 23 with an internal oblique strain.

According to Mandy Bell of the MLB's website, Reyes is set to get some swings in this weekend, and manager Terry Francona is "really optimistic" about how the 25-year-old is recovering:

Franmil Reyes will go to Lake County to hit this weekend while the team is in Pittsburgh. He'll be re-evaluated on Saturday to determine how much more aggressive he can get in his rehab after that. Tito seemed really optimistic about how Franmil has recovered so far. https://t.co/qqkAnsIGgN
— Mandy Bell (@MandyBell02) June 16, 2021

Reyes' return would be a massive boost for a Cleveland side looking to keep pace with the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central Division race. When Reyes went down with his injury, he was batting .257 with 11 home runs and 29 RBI across 40 games.

Per ESPN stats, he remains third on the team in RBI for the campaign.

Second-place Cleveland began Wednesday's home matchup versus the Baltimore Orioles at 36-28 and five games back of the White Sox.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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