The Los Angeles Dodgers caught another tough break in regards to injuries this past week when prospect Dennis Santana was scratched just moments before making his first career Major League start.
It was originally believed that Santana tore his lat muscle, although the diagnosis was later changed to a right rotator cuff strain. The true severity of the injury is not entirely clear, but it is clear that he will be out for a while.
The Dodgers transferred Santana from the 10-day to the 60-day disabled list on Saturday in order to make room on the 40-man roster for Daniel Corcino. As a result, Santana is not eligible to return until Aug. 4.
There is a bit of good news, though, as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts does not believe that Santana will require rotator cuff surgery, via Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times:
Roberts said Santana would not even throw “for a few weeks.”
“I don’t think it’s a surgery thing right now,” Roberts said.
Santana allowed five runs on six hits and struck out four in 3.2 innings in his only Major League game before getting injured. He earned earn his first career win in that relief appearance against the Colorado Rockies.
Given that Santana is only 22 years old, the organization will certainly proceed with caution and won’t bring him back from the injury too early. They have done with some of their other top young arms, Julio Urias and Walker Buehler.
The injury nonetheless is obviously a tough one for Santana to swallow. He tore his way through the Minor League system this season and reached the Majors for the first time, only to see his season cut short after just one outing.
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