Setback brings Eickhoff’s rehab to a halt
PHILADELPHIA » More than once, Matt Klentak has announced plans for Jerad Eickhoff to eventually rejoin the Phillies’ starting rotation. Not so fast. Missing all season with a strained right lat, the promising right-hander’s rehab was halted Monday after a troubling report. During a Class AAA rehab start Sunday for Lehigh Valley in Syracuse, N.Y., Eickhoff experienced discomfort in his right middle and index fingers.
With that, the Phils shut his rehab down, at least temporarily.
“Late in the outing, he felt a little twinge in his fingertips after delivering a curveball,” Gabe Kapler reported before the Phils’ 3-0 victory Monday over the Braves. “He felt it on a subsequent pitch as well. So we are going to re-evaluate him, halt the rehab program for now and do a little reading-and-reacting before what we decide what the next steps are.”
Kapler did not express concern. Nor, however, did he sound ready to minimize the situation.
“I don’t think we’re at the stage of deciding the level of concern,” the manager said. “I think we’re at the stage of evaluating further.”
As recently as last week, however, Klentak sounded as if he had evaluated plenty when, for at least the second time, he stressed that Eickhoff would be a key piece in the starting rotation.
“Based on his track record, I think that’s what we need to be focused on,” the general manager said. “He’s earned that. So, we’re going to set our sights on him joining the rotation.” He did warn, though, of alternative possibilities. “A lot can change,” he said, “between now and his activation date.”
*** Jorge Alfaro’s arm is becoming legendary. Monday, he threw two fastballs that effectively decided the game. In the seventh, with the Phils leading, 1-0, Alfaro caught Johan Camargo stealing with a laser to second. The game ended when Alfaro went 15 yards up the third base line to corral a bunt and catch Ender Inciarte at first.
Kapler, who played with Pudge Rodriguez, said he had never been around a catcher who could have made the play in the ninth.
“I don’t know that I believe that,” Alfaro said. “But it means a lot to me that the manager has that confidence in me.”
*** J.P. Crawford did some light work in Clearwater Sunday as he tries to recover from a right forearm strain that has left him on the disabled list since April 29.
According to Kapler, the infielder took 10 ground balls and made some timed throws to first under the watch of organization infield instructor Chris Truby.
“That all went well,” the manager said.
*** Roman Quinn, the outfield prospect forever fighting off injury, will miss another six to eight weeks.
According to the Phils, Quinn underwent successful surgery Monday to repair a torn ligament in his right middle finger. The operation was performed by Dr. Randy Culp.
Quinn, 25, was hitting .289 with two home runs for Class AAA Lehigh Valley. He had a brief opportunity with the Phillies late in 2016, hitting .263 in 15 games.
*** Out all season with a strained right shoulder, Pat Neshek made to throws off flat ground.
“That was cool to watch,” Kapler said. “The throws were coming out crisp. After, he reported feeling fine.”
Neshek will continue to rehab by throwing on flat ground, Kapler said.
*** NOTES » Nick Pivetta worked seven scoreless innings, fanning seven. He has allowed one run in his last 19 innings with two walks and 25 strikeouts … Vince Velasquez (4-4, 4.37 ERA) and righthander Brandon McCarthy (4-2, 4.05) will pitch Tuesday night at 7:05. The series concludes Wednesday night with Jake Arrieta (32, 2.82) facing left-hander Luiz Gohara (0-0, 1.29) … With a first-inning walk, Cesar Hernandez had reached base in 25 consecutive games … Aaron Altherr’s pinch homer in the seventh was the Phillies’ third of the season … Odubel Herrera, 2-for4, had his 18th multi-hit game.