Carlos Carrasco Diagnosed With Mild Strain After Thursday Injury Scare

The Cleveland Indians were already bit sternly by the injury bug before taking the field for their first Spring Training workout, learning last week that staff ace Mike Clevinger will be shelved for 6-to-8 weeks following surgery to repair a torn meniscus.

Therefore, the team was desperate for good news regarding Carlos Carrasco's MRI results. The 32-year-old right-hander was spotted sporting a crutch to support a limp right leg on Thursday, seemingly out of nowhere.

Well, the Indians managed to luck out this time, as the club announced that Carrasco will miss just a few days after being diagnosed with a mild hip flexor strain.

Following imaging, Carlos Carrasco has been diagnosed with a mild strain of the right hip flexor and is currently day-to-day. pic.twitter.com/kurhfG6viw
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) February 21, 2020

This is massive news for Cleveland, as its rotation can't afford to have more hurlers hit the injured list following Sunshine's operation.

Further, and perhaps more importantly, it's reassuring as it pertains to Carrasco's comeback story. The Venezuela native famously missed three months of the 2019 season due to chronic myeloid leukemia.

Carlos Carrasco hurts his leg, will undergo tests https://t.co/00hnBDGD8l via @HardballTalk
— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) February 20, 2020

Carrasco projects to be the Indians' No. 2 starter with Corey Kluber no longer on roster.

In his last full season (2018), Cookie was superb, finishing 17-10 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.125 WHIP, two complete games, and 231 strikeouts in 192 innings.