Phillies right-hander Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez missed his scheduled appearance against the Orioles on Wednesday thanks to a sore right shoulder, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez shut down with shoulder soreness
The Phillies right-hander skipped a scheduled appearance on Wednesday due to a sore right shoulder.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Gonzalez first felt soreness in his right arm while throwing yesterday, per Zolecki, and the Phillies decided to be cautious with the right-hander by sitting him out on Wednesday. The Cuban native has already seen a doctor about the issue and is scheduled to see a doctor again on Thursday.
“We’re always concerned about guys who are sore,” said Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. “But that’s all it is right now. He is day-to-day...He experienced some soreness in the front of his shoulder. We don’t think it’s anything alarming. He was feeling better today.”
The Phillies initially signed Gonzalez to four-year, $48 million contract last summer, but that first agreement was reduced to a three-year, $12 million deal with a vesting option for a fourth year after concerns arose regarding Gonzalez’s right elbow during his physical. Gonzalez had reportedly been healthy prior to experiencing shoulder soreness on Tuesday, though according to Amaro, he did struggle through some arm tightness in February.
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The 27-year-old's arm ailment adds to a growing list of Phillies pitchers who have suffered arm injuries in spring training. Cole Hamels threw for the first time since March 1 on Wednesday, while Mike Adams and Jonathan Pettibone have also had shoulder issues in Phillies camp.
These injuries have left Philadelphia with very little pitching depth heading into the final weeks of spring training. Barring any unforeseen setbacks, Cliff Lee, A.J. Burnett, and Kyle Kendrick will be ready for Opening Day, but beyond that, the back end of the Phillies rotation looks likely to be a big question mark in April.
Gonzalez was unlikely to make the Phillies rotation to begin the season anyhow, though his shoulder soreness leaves the club with little pitching depth. The right-hander struggled mightily in his first two spring appearances, allowing six hits and five earned runs over 2⅔ innings.
For now, the cause of Gonzalez’s sore shoulder is unknown. Given the team’s struggles with injuries this spring and their three-year investment in Gonzalez last August, the Phillies will likely be cautious with the Cuban native moving forward.
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