Mike Minor
photo by Tim Evearitt
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- After spending this winter concerned about Mike Minor's health, the Braves gained some encouragement as he impressed through the first two weeks of Spring Training. But the club's initial fear was realized on Tuesday when Minor's left shoulder began bothering him again.
Minor was scratched from Sunday's scheduled Grapefruit League season debut with left shoulder tightness, and it now appears he will likely begin a second consecutive season on the disabled list.
The Braves are currently calling this a precautionary move. But given how problematic this same left shoulder proved to be last year, there is definite reason for concern.
Given the concern that persisted throughout the winter, Minor stood as one of the most encouraging developments during this early portion of Spring Training. As he completed his bullpen sessions and threw live batting practice, coaches said he looked like he had during his successful 2013 season.
But as Minor went through these same exercises again on Tuesday, he felt some of the same shoulder discomfort that plagued him all of last year, when he posted a 4.77 ERA over 25 starts that proved agonizing from both a physical and mental perspective.
Multiple MRI exams performed last year showed no structural damage in Minor's shoulder. Hart indicated the 27-year-old pitcher will soon undergo further evaluation that could determine whether his back might be causing the lingering shoulder ailment that the team has simply diagnosed as tendinitis.
"[Minor] worked very hard this winter with all the things he was going to do," Hart said. "He came into camp in great shape and threw the ball well. There was never even a trainer's report."
The Braves revealed Minor's latest setback a couple hours after watching fifth-starter candidate Wandy Rodriguez labor through the one inning he completed in Wednesday's Grapefruit League season opener against the Mets.
Rodriguez, Eric Stults, Mike Foltynewicz and Manny Banuelos are all considered candidates to fill a spot in Atlanta's rotation. But before Minor's shoulder began bothering him again, the Braves were planning to fill just one available spot with a member of this group.
---- Source: MLB.com
Mike Minor
photo by Tim Evearitt