Arodys Vizcaino’s rehab from last year’s Tommy John surgery has suffered a minor setback. Arodys Vizcaino has been shut down for at least six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic debridement on his right elbow on Tuesday. Vizcaino will not pick up a baseball for six weeks and according to multiple reports he will likely not throw a pitch for the big league team this season.
Vizcaino felt discomfort in his right elbow after throwing a bullpen session. During an examination it was discovered that calcium had deposited around his elbow that was causing discomfort. Dr. James Andrews, who performed Vizcaino’s Tommy John surgery in March of 2012, performed the arthroscopic surgery to clean out the calcium buildup. The Cubs said Dr. Andrew’s exam prior to the scope showed the ligament in his elbow is in good shape.
According to the Sun-Times, the Cubs plan for Vizcaino now is to have him begin a throwing program in six weeks that would put him on track to pitch in the Arizona Fall League this fall. That would put him inline to make his Cubs debut in 2014.
The Cubs are calling this a minor setback for Vizcaino.
The Cubs acquired Arodys Vizcaino last year at the trade deadline from the Braves, along with Jaye Chapman, for Paul Maholm, Reed Johnson and cash considerations.
Kyuji Fujikawa
The Cubs placed Kyuji Fujikawa on the 15-day DL on Monday with a muscular strain on his right forearm, the second trip to the disabled list for Fujikawa already this season. Fujikawa underwent a MRI on his right elbow on Tuesday and the Cubs were expected to announce the results on Wednesday. The Cubs are optimistic that the injury is nothing more than the forearm strain that sidelined him from April 13-May 10.
Junior Lake and Josh Vitters
According to a report from Iowa, Junior Lake is still recovering from the broken rib he suffered during Spring Training and is least four weeks from making his season debut with the I-Cubs.
Josh Vitters has landed back on the DL. Vitters was placed on the 7-day disabled list on Tuesday retroactive to May 26 with a strained muscle in his rib cage. Vitters had problems early in his career staying on the field and this is his third different injury this season. Vitters missed Spring Training with a left quad injury and was on the shelf from April 9-April 30 with a lower back strain.