Jays' Litsch shut down for six weeks after surgery

[LittleOzzy]

Right-handed pitcher Jesse Litsch won't be ready to pitch for the Toronto Blue Jays when the MLB season kicks off.

Litsch will not be allowed to throw a ball for six weeks after having arthroscopic surgery to remove a serious infection in his shoulder.

According to MLB.com, the 26-year-old, who had inflammation in his shoulder, received a platelet-rich plasma injection earlier in the week to help him heal. That injection caused the infection.

"He had a reaction to the injection that actually caused an infection, and as that began to grow, there was an additional procedure needed to clean out the infection," Blue Jays manager John Farrell told Bluejays.com on Sunday.

"It was an emergency procedure because the infection was growing, so that had to be flushed out."

Litsch, a one-time starter, was fighting for a role in the bullpen at camp.

Litsch had a 6-3 record with a 4.44 ERA in 75 innings in 2011.

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=389521

[jrsmith]

Let the excuses for a playoff-less 2012 season begin.

Kidding.

Not really.

[Avenger]

God, how devastating and we don't even have a morbidly obese noodle baller in the farm that can throw 82 mph fast balls right down the pipe.

[Indiana Jones]

God, how devastating and we don't even have a morbidly obese noodle baller in the farm that can throw 82 mph fast balls right down the pipe.

you lookin' for a job??

[Al_Oliver]

God, how devastating and we don't even have a morbidly obese noodle baller in the farm that can throw 82 mph fast balls right down the pipe.

actually he was pretty decent in the pen... but thanks for playing

[baulderdash77]

It's doubtful that without injury (and maybe with injuries) Litsch is going to be on our 25 man going forward. He had his chances and the organizational pressure behind him is too strong for him to stay around.

As it was before the injury, he was probably only a 25% chance to win the 7th BP spot and get on the active roster behind Villanueva.

[Lateral Quicks]

I'm not much of a Litsch fan, but I'd say he's an underappreciated guy by Jays' fans in general. He's compiled a nice little track record in the AL East with mediocre stuff. If he hadn't been injured so much he'd probably be signing one of those ridiculous multi-million dollar 4th starter type deals right about now.

He really needs to take better care of himself. For every CC and David Wells out there, I'd imagine there are multiple "fat" Cecil's, etc. With his mediocre stuff and recurring injury woes he needs to get his conditioning under control.