Indians Get Tremendous Update on Mike Clevinger in His Progress From Knee Surgery

Cleveland Indians fans have had a fairly tumultuous offseason with what the team has done, but finally getting some positive news should lift their spirits.

Among the recent bad news was star pitcher Mike Clevinger undergoing knee surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus, but he's already on the mend and working his way back. The right-hander will throw a bullpen session on Monday.

The sooner the Tribe can have Clevinger up to speed, the better. He's expected to be their top arm this season, and while Cleveland has the depth to deal with his absence in the meantime, the AL Central is stacked and will be boasting more potent offenses this year given the upgrades the Twins and White Sox have made.

Originally, Clevinger's timetable for return was expected to be six to eight weeks, but it looks like he's already on the fast track to beat that. It's unclear if he'll be ready for Opening Day, which comes up on March 26, but it's looking like he could be pitching by early April.

Of course, that all depends on how his first bullpen session goes, so be on the lookout for updates and notes later on Monday regarding his progress.