The Indians have activated designated hitter Travis Hafner from the 15-day disabled list, the club announced Wednesday. He will bat sixth Wednesday.
The 35-year-old slugger has been out of action since Aug. 9 with a back injury, his second major injury of the season. A knee injury in late May knocked him out of 37 games. When he's been healthy, Hafner has hit well. His .239/.355/.453 line translates to a 128 OPS+, tied with Shin-Soo Choo for the team's highest mark.
The Indians hold a $13-million option with a $2.75-million buyout on Hafner for the 2013 season. Given Hafner's injury struggles, such a price might be too rich for the Indians, but his performance when healthy would likely make him an attractive free-agent option for American League teams looking for some pop out of the DH spot.
