CLEVELAND, Ohio — Johnny Mac is back with the Cleveland Indians, for at least a few games this week.

Former Indians infielder John McDonald was spotted around the clubhouse Monday preparing for a cameo as the Tribe’s first base coach on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sandy Alomar will be away from the club attending a family graduation and manager Terry Francona said McDonald was the organization’s best option to fill in.

McDonald, who broke into the majors with the Indians in 1999, spent parts of seven seasons with Cleveland, batting .229 in 293 games. He is in his fourth season as the organization’s defensive coordinator. Prior to that, McDonald worked as a special assistant to the club’s baseball operations department after retiring as a player following the 2014 season.

Cleveland selected McDonald in the 12th round of the 1996 draft. He played for the Indians, Tigers, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Pirates, Phillies, Red Sox and Angels during a 16-year major-league career built on his reputation as a slick-fielding shortstop.

Francona said he does not think McDonald has coached first base before, but there was no other obvious in-house candidate. He did not want to disrupt what assistant hitting coach Victor Rodriguez does during a game with Tribe hitters, nor what coach Brian Sweeney does with the pitchers.

“We don’t expect Johnny Mac to learn every single pitcher’s move and all that stuff,” Francona said. “Just, he’s played the game a long time and he understands it, so he’ll be of help.”

Cleveland Indians defensive coordinator John McDonald gives Francisco Lindor a hug before batting practice during spring training in Goodyear, Arizona. (Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)The Plain Dealer

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