The Cleveland Indians are the latest professional sports team to announce they will consider changing their nickname amid growing pressure to correct racial wrongdoings.

The news comes on the same day that the NFL's Washington Redskins said they would "undergo a thorough review" of their nickname, which has been deemed offensive by Native American groups for decades.

"We are committed to making a positive impact in our community and embrace our responsibility to advance social justice and equality," the Indians said in a statement.

"Our organisation fully recognises our team name is among the most visible ways in which we connect with the community.

"We have had ongoing discussions organisationally on these issues. The recent unrest in our community and our country has only underscored the need for us to keep improving as an organisation on issues of social justice.

"With that in mind, we are committed to engaging our community and appropriate stakeholders to determine the best path forward with regard to our team name."

Cleveland's major-league team was originally known as the Blues before switching to the Broncos and then the Naps. The Indians name started in the 1915 season.

The franchise dropped their Chief Wahoo logo from their game jerseys and caps two years ago because it was deemed too racist and offensive.