INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Indians will travel to Charlotte on Thursday to open a four game series. That series will include Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison on the roster.
The rehabbing duo just completed their work in the most recent week-long home stand to mixed reviews. While both appear healthy, the results at the plate just have not come around yet.
Harrison is just 1-for-19 in the assignment, while Mercer is 3-for-17. It is encouraging, however, that both players are playing full nine-inning games. Playing back-to-back full games shows that they are not too far from returning to Pittsburgh.
“Everything is feeling good,” Harrison said. “The body is feeling good. It is good to play back-to-back nines, just to put my hand through something that it hasn’t been through in a while. I might be a little sore on certain swings, but nothing that keeps me from doing what I do.”
While the results are not there, Harrison does appear to be making more solid contact in batting practice and in the games. This is something that he is pleased with.
“It is nice to go out there and make solid contact, so you are getting closer to where you want to be,” Harrison said.
Mercer has been able to put more work on the knee, both in games and with his pregame work. He has been pleased with how everything has responded so far.
“[I feel] awesome,” Mercer said. “We even did some early stuff today, which puts a little more strain on [my knee], but overall, it feels really good. Even with the early work and the nine innings, it responded well.”
Mercer is geared up for the next step, which will come in the first two games in Charlotte, playing back-to-back games of his own.
“[Getting in back-to-back games] is obviously the last and next step,” Mercer said. “We will see how it responds and go from there. But so far so good, even the back-to-back sevens that I played the other day felt good too,”
Harrison will also be making the trip to Charlotte as well. However, he does not plan on coming back to Indianapolis on the team charter, rather choosing a different direction.
“I travel to Charlotte, but I don’t plan on being in Charlotte the whole time,” Harrison said. “That’s all that I can say.”
