Theo Epstein announced Wednesday afternoon that RHP Jacob Turner has been shut down indefinitely. Turner was on a rehab assignment with Double-A Tennessee when his elbow flared up. Epstein did not say how long the Cubs think it will be before Turner is able to resume throwing.
Jacob Turner made two starts for Double-A Tennessee. Reports from the park and the numbers were positive. Turner completed nine innings and allowed five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts (2.00 ERA, 0.78 WHIP).
Jacob Turner appeared in one Cactus League game before the Cubs shut him down in the spring. Turner was placed on the 15-day DL on April 5, retroactive to March 27, with right shoulder inflammation. Turner was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 19.
Reports in March, however, said Turner was shut down with a flexor strain and a bone bruise in his right elbow. An MRI at the time did not show any structural damage.
With Turner not appearing in a game since June 14, there was a red flag that something was not right. He made his first start on June 9 and his second five days later. Even with the All-Star break, Turner should have pitched last Friday.
Turner made 63 pitches, 36 for strikes, over five innings in his last outing. Reports from the park indicated Turner was hitting the low- to mid-90s with his fastball and with good command. Turner did a good job of keeping the ball down and inducing groundball outs.
At this point of the season with this latest setback, it would be hard to see how Jacob Turner could help the team this year.
The Cubs claimed Jacob Turner off waivers from the Marlins last August and worked out a deal for him. The Cubs sent minor leaguers, RHP Jose Arias and RHP Tyler Bremer, to Miami for Turner.
Turner appeared in eight games for the Cubs last season. Turner made six starts and allowed 27 runs, 25 earned, on 42 hits with 10 walks and 17 strikeouts. Turner was 2-4 with a 6.49 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP and picked up the victory on the last day of the season in Milwaukee.
The Cubs picked up the $1 million option on his contract in the winter and he remains under club control through the 2018 season.
Jacob Turner turned 24 last month (May 21) and has yet to pitch to the expectations that led to him being the Tigers’ first round pick (ninth overall) in the 2009 draft.