Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers and catchers reported for Spring Training on Wednesday, which also marked the first day clubs could utilize the disabled list. As such, Yimi Garcia was placed on the 60-day disabled list in a corresponding move to clear room on the 40-man roster for the Dodgers’ signing of Sergio Romo.
The clock on Garcia’s disabled list stint will not begin until Opening Day of the 2017 season. He underwent Tommy John surgery last October, which essentially ruled him out for all of this year. A remote possibility has the right-hander returning for the final month of the regular season or thereabouts. Brandon McCarthy’s recovery was 15 months.
Garcia will have essentially missed two full seasons if he’s unable to pitch in 2017. Last year, he appeared in nine games with the Dodgers — all in April — before suffering from multiple injuries.
The first of which was right biceps soreness that forced the Dodgers to place Garcia on the 15-day disabled list and later the 60-day DL. Garcia didn’t throw off a mound until early July.
At that time, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts estimated Garcia was two weeks away from beginning a rehab assignment. Garcia did accomplish as much, but suffered a knee injury in August while on rehab with Double-A Tulsa.
Shortly thereafter, it was reported that the 26-year-old was unlikely to pitch again in 2016. That was set in stone when Garcia underwent surgery last September to remove a bone fragment in his left knee.
Garcia finished the season with a 3.24 ERA, 2.89 FIP and 1.20 WHIP in 8.1 innings pitched over nine games. He allowed a combined six runs on seven his, including three home runs, in 7.1 innings in five rehab assignments spread across the Arizona League Dodgers, High-A Rancho Cucamonga and Drillers.
Garcia ranked second on the team in 2015 with 59 appearances and posted a 3.34 ERA over 56.2 innings pitched.
