Garcia out for "several weeks"

By Bob Herpen
The Phanatic Magazine

Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitcher Freddy Garcia, currently on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder troubles, has been spared from surgery.

Garcia, who left his last start June 8 in Kansas City after allowing seven hits and six runs over 1 2/3 innings in an 8-4 Phillies loss to the Royals, was placed on the DL after an MRI taken Monday revealed fraying in his rotator cuff and a problem in the labrum.

The 31-year-old met with renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama on Wednesday, where it was agreed that surgery shouldn't be an immediate solution.

"Both the Phillies' medical staff and Dr. Andrews are in complete agreement that a conservative approach should be taken in regards to Garcia's injury," said Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. "Garcia will be shut down from throwing for several weeks. At some point, he will begin a tossing program. Both doctors agree that there is some damage to the shoulder, but it's more a product of being a starting pitcher who has logged as many innings as Freddy has over the last several seasons."

Garcia has had a rough tenure thus far with the Phils, compiling a 1-5 record and 5.90 earned-run average in 11 starts. He has endured three separate mishaps in the first third of the season -- mild tendinitis in his right biceps during spring training which caused him to miss the first two weeks of the season, bruising his left shin following a collision with an equipment cart in San Francisco, as well as this latest injury.

It has been a 180-degree turn from the hurler who won 31 games over the last two seasons with the Chicago White Sox, and who carries a 117-76 record with a 4.07 ERA in 263 games with Seattle, Chicago, and Philadelphia.