JUPITER, Fla. (AP) - Jaime Garcia will seek a second opinion on his surgically repaired shoulder from Dr. James Andrews before deciding his next course of action, St. Louis General Manager John Mozeliak said on Tuesday.
Garcia requested the second opinion even before consulting with Cardinals team doctors.
Mozeliak didn’t go into detail about the findings of Garcia’s Monday exam, other to say that the initial results were encouraging.
“Based on the MRI and overall, we feel good,” Mozeliak said. “I would like to see what the other doctor has to say and we will go from there.”
Garcia isn’t the only Cardinals pitcher who is hurting.
St. Louis closer Trevor Rosenthal cut short Tuesday’s scheduled bullpen session after experiencing “a little discomfort” in his right leg.
“If it was in the season I feel like it probably would be nothing worth stopping throwing (for) or anything, but because we are in the situation we are now I thought I would say something to make sure it was taken care of.”
Mozeliak called the soreness in the groin-quadriceps area of Rosenthal’s leg a strain, characterizing him as day to day.
Rosenthal felt the discomfort after delivering a pitch near what was supposed to be the end of his scheduled 25-pitch session. He immediately stopped throwing to consult with trainers, then headed to the clubhouse, where he iced his leg.
Rosenthal didn’t appear too concerned following the workout.
“It was nothing real serious,” he said, “Being this early I thought I would just say something.”
Garcia’s injury is a bigger concern for the Cardinals.
He also consulted with Andrews last season prior to having shoulder surgery. Wednesday’s examination will take place in Andrews’ Pensacola, Fla., office, Mozeliak said.
The 27-year old Garcia had been the favorite to become the lone left-hander in the Cardinals rotation. Mozeliak said on Saturday that this setback makes it unlikely that Garcia will be ready to enter the rotation at the start of the season.
“Right now his situation is, first, determine health and then you can worry about the next step in terms of what this camp means to him,” Mozeliak said. “The good news is we have options. We certainly feel with have the depth to handle this if we have to.”
Garcia was 5-2 with a 3.58 ERA last season before being shut down. He won a career-high 13 games in the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
Without Garcia, Carlos Martinez and Joe Kelly, both right-handers, become the likely pitchers to fill the void in the rotation.
The Cardinals could also turn to Tyler Lyons should they desire a left-handed starter.
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