The Detroit Tigers announced that left-handed pitcher Blaine Hardy could start the season on the disabled list.
There is a decent chance LHP Blaine Hardy will start the season on the DL, or possibly at Toledo. Bosio said there may not be enough time left in spring for him to get ready. Shoulder issues
— Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) March 7, 2018
Chris Bosio the pitching coach for the Detroit Tigers had this to say about Blaine Hardy’s injury.
“It’s going to be tough,” he said when asked if Hardy had time to be physically ready to start the season. “He’s champing at the bit, I know that. I talked to him yesterday and he’s doing well and feeling better.
Bosio also said that Hardy is three appearances and three bullpen sessions behind schedule.
Hardy had this to say about his shoulder injury:
“I respect the plan,” said Hardy, who had a cortisone shot in the shoulder last week. “The key is to be healthy. I don’t want to have a relapse and then all of a sudden I’m two weeks behind, then I’m a month behind and then I’m two months behind. I am not saying that 100 percent I won’t be ready (for the start of the season). Who knows, I may feel great tomorrow and they will allow me to throw a bullpen.
There was no timetable announced for the bullpen session. However, Jason Beck the beat writer for the Tigers on MLB.com tweeted out that Hardy is scheduled to throw a session next Tuesday.
Hardy was expected to be the second lefty coming out of the bullpen behind Daniel Stumpf to start the season. However, he was also being considered for a spot in the starting rotation.
In 33.1 innings pitched last season, Hardy posted a 5.94 ERA, with 28 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.77 all coming out of the bullpen. Currently, it’s unclear if the Tigers will carry a second left-hander out of the bullpen when camp breaks later this month.
As the season draws closer, it will certainly be an interesting decision for new manager Ron Gardenhire on who to bring in from the ‘pen.
