With the Angels off today, I went over to the minor-league complex to watch Jon Garland pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers’ Triple-A squad.
On the way back, I noticed Hank Conger warming up pitchers in one of the bullpens. Conger was catching the pitches — and then flipping the ball under-handed to a coach standing nearby who would throw it back to the pitcher.
Not a good sign.
During a break, I went up to Conger and asked him why he wasn’t throwing. Turns out he has a slight tear of the labrum in his right shoulder.
The shoulder has been bothering him since early in spring training. Invited to the major-league camp to start the spring, his throwing was limited. When the discomfort continued after he was re-assigned to the minor-league camp, Conger underwent an MRI which revealed the tear.
He has begun a rehabilitation program that could last as long as four weeks, meaning he will most likely miss the start of the minor-league season and stay behind at the extended spring training camp in Tempe. Surgery remains a possibility at some point.
The Angels’ first-round pick in 2005, Conger has already had to deal with wrist and back issues in his first two professional seasons.
As for Garland — he got his work in but wasn’t particularly impressive against the young Brewers. He went five innings, gave up three runs on eight hits (a few of the broken-bat variety) while walking none and striking out five. He threw 73 pitches, 49 for strikes.
Garland will pitch again Saturday and then start the one-game Freeway Series against the Dodgers on March 27, putting him on track to start the second game of the regular season in Minnesota.
– BILL PLUNKETT/The Orange County Register
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