CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Shin-Soo Choo said he was a fast healer. The Indians hope he's right.

Choo was activated from the disabled list Friday and veteran outfielder Austin Kearns was designated for assignment to make room. Choo suffered a broken left thumb when he was hit by a pitch on June 24 by San Francisco's Jonathan Sanchez. Dr. Thomas Graham performed surgery on June 28 at Cleveland Clinic, piecing the broken bone back together with the aid of a metal plate and several screws.

He was scheduled to be sidelined eight to 10 weeks, but he's made it back in seven. Choo began his rehab assignment Monday at Class A Lake County, but played only three games, with one of them being rained out.

After putting up impressive numbers in 2009 and 2010, Choo has struggled this season. He's hitting .244 (65-for-266) with 10 doubles, two triples, five homers and 28 RBI in 72 games. Choo was hitting .357 (10-for-28) in nine games leading up to his injury.

Choo will have the thumb taped and wear a protective cover over it when he plays. Earlier this week he said he had no problems throwing and didn't feel pain swinging the bat. Choo bats and throws left-handed.

"I'm a fast healer," said Choo, recently.

Look for Choo to start in right field tonight against the Twins, who come to town for a three-game series. Kosuke Fukudome has played well in right since being acquired from the Cubs before the July 31st trading deadline. With Grady Sizemore (right knee, hernia) still on the disabled list and Michael Brantley dealing with a sore right wrist, manager Manny Acta has had trouble all season putting his starting outfield on the field at the same time, but Choo's return is a step in the right direction.

Brantley, if he gets clearance from the Indians medical staff, could be in the lineup tonight. Sizemore is not epected back, if at all, until sometime in September.

Kearns becomes a casualty of Choo's return and the good play of Fukudome and Ezequiel Carrera. Kearns played well for the Indians in the first half of last season, before they traded him to the Yankees. Over the winter they re-signed him as a free agentfor $1.3 million.

However, Kearns had trouble adjusting to his role as a bench player and never really swung the bat well. He hit .200 (30-150) with two homers and seven RBI in 57 games. The Indians have 10 days to trade, release or try to get Kearns through waivers.

Choo is not the only big name returning to action for this series. Justin Morneau, Twins first baseman, will be activated Friday following a neck injury.