According to Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona, All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez will be in the team's starting lineup when it faces the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday afternoon.

Just a few days before their season opener, a Cleveland Indians offseason that's been plagued by injuries appeared to take its biggest hit.

After fouling a ball off his left leg in the third inning of his team's Spring Training matchup against the Chicago White Sox, Jose Ramirez was carted off the field, leaving his status for the start of the season -- and perhaps beyond -- in doubt.

But as it turns out, the Indians won't have to worry about an extended absence for their All-Star third baseman -- or even any absence at all. On Tuesday, Indians manager Terry Francona revealed that Ramirez will be in Cleveland's lineup when it kicks off the 2019 season against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday at Target Field.

Ramirez's presence in the Indians' lineup is significant given that the team will already be without All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor and starting second baseman Jason Kipnis. Lindor will begin the 2019 season on the 10-day injured list while recovering from a calf strain he suffered prior to the start of Spring Training, while Kipnis will soon be re-evaluated for his own mild calf strain, which he suffered last week.

While Cleveland's starting lineup won't be at full strength, it now won't have to worry about missing its 2-time All-Star third baseman, who has been an American League MVP finalist in each of the past two seasons. Last year, Ramirez hit for a .270 average, .387 on-base percentage, .552 slugging and .939 OPS, to go along with career highs of 39 home runs and 105 RBIs in 157 games.