By C. Trent Rosecrans Blue Jays right-hander Jesse Litsch will miss the start of the season after undergoing an emergency shoulder surgery last week, manager John Ferrell told reporters on Sunday.
Litsch had been bothered by right shoulder inflammation and was given a platelet-rich plasma injection by Dr. James Andrews to help clear up the inflammation. Instead of clearing up the infection, Litsch got an infection and had to have arthroscopic surgery.
Farrell said Litsch will not throw for six weeks.
"There's a small risked when you receive an injection," Farrell said (National Post). "Unfortunately, in this case, he was hit with it."
Litsch, 26, missed a month last season with a shoulder injury. He was 6-3 with a 4.44 ERA in 28 games and eight starts, going 2-0 with a 4.08 ERA and a save as a reliever. He also had a much better strikeout rate as a reliever, recording 30 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings as a reliever and 36 in 46 1/3 as a starter. He was expect to be used out of the bullpen this season.
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