LAKELAND, Fla. – Mike Minor is expected to have his sore pitching shoulder examined by Dr. James Andrews as soon as Monday, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
He was bothered by recurring shoulder inflammation or tendinitis for much of his career-worst 2014 season, but Minor reported no issues with the arm during his offseason throwing program or the first week of spring training. The shoulder stiffened this week after his bullpen and batting-practice throwing sessions.
It was announced Wednesday that he would be shut down for now and scratched from a scheduled start Sunday. Braves president of baseball operations John Hart said they wanted Minor to have the shoulder and possibly other surrounding tissues examined in an effort to determine what’s again threatening to undermine his season.
Minor, 27, struggled to a 6-12 record and 4.77 ERA in 25 starts last season after missing most of spring training with shoulder soreness, which put him on the disabled list in April and also cropped up at times throughout the season. The lefty allowed an alarming .357 average and .887 OPS by left-handed batters.
He was arguably the Braves’ best pitcher in 2013, when Minor was 13-9 with career-best totals in wins, ERA (3.21), strikeouts (181) and innings (204 2/3).
