CHICAGO -- The Indians activated outfielder Brandon Guyer for Thursday's game against the Chicago White Sox.

To make room for him on the 25-man roster, Melky Cabrera was designated for assignment.

Guyer had been on a rehab assignment at Class AAA Columbus while recovering from a strained neck. The Indians wanted to activate him on Monday, but in his last minor league rehab game on Sunday he was hit by a pitch in the left hand. That delayed the move until Thursday.

The Indians signed Cabrera to a minor league deal in April after he went unsigned as a free agent in the offseason. He joined the Indians on May 20 in Houston and hit .207 (12-for-54) with five doubles and 11 RBI.

Guyer has struggled this season. He's hitting .150 (12-for-80) with three homers and 10 RBI in 33 games. Last year he played only 70 games while dealing left wrist injury that required surgery at the end of the season.

The Indians are carrying five outfielders with Michael Brantley, rookie Greg Allen, Lonnie Chisenhall, Rajai Davis and Guyer. Bradley Zimmer and Tyler Naquin, two outfielders that opened the season with the Indians, are in the minors.

Naquin is on a rehab assignment after straining his left hamstring. Zimmer was optioned to work on his swing, but on Monday he injured his right shoulder and will be shut down for five days.

Allen has options and could have been sent to the minors, but currently the Indians don't have an established every day center fielder. Allen has played well defensively in center, but he's in a 1-for-28 slump.