(Ross D. Franklin, Associated Press)
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Manager Terry Francona told reporters Sunday morning that second baseman Jason Kipnis will most likely miss the season opener on April 3 because of a strained right rotator cuff in his right shoulder.
Kipnis was scheduled to DH Sunday against San Diego, but Francona said the team's medical staff decided to shut down Kipnis for two weeks. The shut down means he'll almost certainly open the year on the disabled list.
"He could certainly DH today," said Francona. "He could actually go play second, but because there are times when he's still feeling this thing (shoulder), the medical people and Kipnis have met and the determination was that we're going to keep him down for a couple of weeks.