Indians donate full playoff share to PR recovery

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- When the Indians received their playoff shares after last season, the players decided to put one aside to aid hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico. Cleveland officially announced the plans for the donations during its current trip to the United States territory.
On Monday morning, Francisco Lindor visited his old grammar school in the municipality of Gurabo, where he presented a check to Ana Yris Guzman, the executive director for Nuestra Escuela, which is a high school in Caguas, Puerto Rico. The money will be used to help reinstate the school's sports program and refurbish the playing fields damaged by Hurricane Maria in September.
• Lindor receives hero's welcome at school in PR
Former Indians pitcher Joe Colon attended Nuestra Escuela and Lindor lived in the area during his childhood.
"It's a very important donation," said Guzman, who was surrounded by a group of her student-athletes. "We are going to re-establish the sports program. We lost the place where we practiced in a park. We are going to make the place available again for the students. It's very important for our kids, especially because we have many students that are very interested in baseball."

A donation also went to Extra Bases, Inc., which is an independent nonprofit organization founded by former Major Leaguer Carlos Delgado. The former All-Star plans on allocating the entire donation to the Albergue Jesus de Nazaret, a home for abused children in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, which is where Tribe catcher Roberto Pérez was raised. The money will go toward rebuilding a baseball field, fence repair and sports equipment.

"Not surprising," Indians manager Terry Francona said of his players' donation. "That's one of things that I probably get most proud about, is the guys want to give back and share. We're so lucky. Most of us, including myself, aren't capable of doing much else, and since we're in this game, we get treated really well, especially financially. So to help out other people, I think is awesome."

Worth noting
:: Puerto Rico Series coverage ::
• Due to their two-game series being outside the continental United States, the Indians and Twins are permitted to carry a 26th player on their respective rosters. Cleveland brought center fielder Greg Allen from Triple-A Columbus to provide insurance for the outfield and speed and defense off the bench.
"Just having the chance to be a part of this," Allen said, "playing in Puerto Rico, being in this city, especially after all the devastation that they experienced in the past few months, I think just having the chance to be here and experience that and be a part of that, it's very special."
• The Indians' rotation order has undergone a facelift in light of the rainouts against the Blue Jays on Saturday and Sunday, combined with off-days this week on Monday and Thursday. Corey Kluber (Tuesday) and Carlos Carrasco (Wednesday) will start against the Twins, with Trevor Bauer (Friday), Mike Clevinger (Saturday), Kluber (Sunday) and Carrasco (Monday) going against Baltimore. Righty Josh Tomlin will move to the bullpen until his next scheduled turn on April 24 against the Cubs.
• With Kluber pitching on Tuesday, Francona decided to have Yan Gomes start behind the plate. Perez, who will have family and friends in attendance for the games at Hiram Bithorn Stadium this week, is slated to start Wednesday's game. Francona said he "wrestled with" that decision, but wanted to keep the Kluber-Gomes tandem together.
• In addition to the donated postseason share, the Cleveland Indians Wives Association made a donation to assist in relief and rebuilding efforts. The organization, which consists of spouses of club uniform personnel, presented a check for $4,000 on Monday to Casa Protegida Julia de Burgos, which is an institution for abused women in Puerto Rico.