The Orioles placed struggling Rule 5 draft pick Jason Garcia on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis before Wednesday night's game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Garcia was examined by team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs on Wednesday after complaining of a dead arm the day before. An MRI performed on Garcia's shoulder showed no structural damage, but he will go to the Orioles' spring training facility in Sarasota, Fla., to begin rehabilitating the injury.
"I'm a little bummed out, but I think staying here and not saying anything is hurting the team," Garcia said. "I'll go down there and try to regroup and get strong and come back and help the team win."
The team called up right-hander Mike Wright from Triple-A Norfolk to take Garcia's place in the bullpen.
Garcia, 22, has a 5.93 ERA in eight games. In 132/3 relief innings, he has allowed 10 runs — nine earned — on 11 hits. Garcia has allowed three homers and has walked more batters (11) than he has struck out (eight).
"It's important that he stays on the program they set up for him," manager Buck Showalter said. "I think we're going to be pleasantly surprised when he gets through this period. I think he needs this physically as much as anything."
Garcia's fastball velocity has dipped considerably since spring training, when he was regularly hitting the high 90s. Currently, his average fastball velocity is 93.1 mph, according to FanGraphs. Garcia has no history of shoulder problems. He had Tommy John elbow reconstruction in 2013.
Garcia, who is pitching in relief for the first time, said he experienced a dead arm at the end of spring training — which is typical for pitchers — and tried to pitch through it.
"I just figured it was a little dead arm," Garcia said. "I'm still getting used to relieving and everyday throwing. … Recovery-wise it hasn't been as good as I wanted it to be. Being a starter, you have those couple of days [in between]. Relieving, I think it's tougher on the arm. I've always noticed I wasn't able to regroup as quick."
Garcia also said that knowing he had to be ready to compete for a bullpen spot this spring as a Rule 5 pick, he began his offseason throwing program earlier and progressed through it quicker than previous seasons.
In his most recent outing, Garcia walked four over 21/3 innings, allowing one run on one hit with two strikeouts.
A Rule 5 pick must be on the active roster for at least 90 days to fulfill Rule 5 requirements. Service time logged when rosters are expanded in September also counts.
Wright, the Orioles' Minor League Pitcher of the Year two years ago, is 3-0 with a 2.64 ERA in six starts with Norfolk. After starting his entire career as a professional, he will work out of the bullpen.
"It's exciting," Wright said. "I'm here. It doesn't matter where I'm pitching from. It's going to be really fun. I pitched for two years out of the bullpen in college, so it's going to be like riding the bike. I'll get back into it."
Over his past 13 starts dating to his last seven outings of 2014, Wright is 7-2 with a 1.62 ERA.
"I was just trying to ride the mentality I had the end of last season," Wright said. "I tried to use that this spring training and use it at the beginning of the season this year. So far, it's worked, and I hope it continues."
Flaherty heading to Sarasota
Orioles infielder Ryan Flaherty received a platelet-rich plasma injection Wednesday to treat his recurring right groin injury, Showalter said.
Showalter said Flaherty will report to Sarasota in the next few days to begin his rehab there, an indication that he might miss extended time.
"He feels good today," Showalter said. "There are still so many things he can do. I think a lot of the mistakes that people make with stuff like that is they stop doing everything else and he won't. Probably tomorrow and the next few days he's going to be really sore from it."
An MRI taken on Flaherty's groin came back clean, but there is inflammation in the area. Flaherty came off the DL on Friday after missing time for the same injury. He left Monday's game in the third inning after pulling up lame while fielding a grounder.
"I think the biggest challenge with Ryan is it really reminds you of how often guys get hurt," Showalter said. "He has never had a leg injury. I was talking to him today. I just don't know if he knows how to play with it initially where you get over the hump a little bit."
Around the horn
Left-hander Brian Matusz was not available out of the bullpen the past two nights because he took a comebacker off the tip of his left thumb Sunday in New York. Showalter said he could have brought Matusz in to throw his fastball and changeup only, but opted against it. … Infielder Everth Cabrera, who is on the DL with a sprained left toe, is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Friday in Indianapolis. It's rare for a player to rehab on the road, especially because the Orioles affiliates are all nearby. But Showalter said the organization wanted Cabrera to face a high level of competition and there's a need for middle-infield help at Norfolk. … Left-hander Wesley Wright (left trapezius strain) also threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Wednesday that went well. … Matt Wieters will catch today in an extended spring game. He caught nine innings in his most recent game Tuesday.
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