Rangers’ Kluber could be done for year with shoulder injury
Two-time AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber could be done for the season after only one inning for the Texas Rangers.
He has a tear in a small muscle in his right shoulder that won’t require surgery, but even in the best-case scenario in this shortened season he won’t throw again for at least four weeks, which is when he will be evaluated again.
“It’s a blow, there’s no getting around it,” said Jon Daniels, the team president and general manager.
Daniels said Monday an MRI revealed a grade 2 tear. The 34-year-old righthander will receive a platelet-rich plasma injection this week.
“Given the time frame here and the nature of a 60-game schedule and everything that goes with it, the timeline is not on our side,” Daniels said. “We will give him his period to rest, and then if it’s recovered, or the injury is healed to the point where he can begin throwing, he’ll do so with the potential to possibly be ready for the end of the season.”
The Rangers didn’t immediately make a roster move Monday since they had the day off, but Kluber is headed to the injured list. Daniels said young left-hander Kolby Allard, who is already on the 30man roster after nine starts as a rookie last season, will fill Kluber’s spot in the rotation.
Kluber exited Sunday’s home game against Colorado after one scoreless inning with tightness behind his shoulder. It was his first start in the majors since May 1, 2019, when he broke his right forearm on a liner to the mound. He injured his side during rehab last summer.
The Rangers acquired Kluber in a trade from Cleveland in December, adding him to a rotation with All-Star lefthander Mike Minor and hard-throwing veteran Lance Lynn.
Texas has an $18 million club option for 2021, and Daniels said it was too early to think about that. But the GM did say the Rangers acquired Kluber with the mindset to have him beyond the season, adding the setback doesn’t necessarily change that desire.
Center fielder Delino DeShields Jr. and hard-throwing reliever Emmanuel Clase, whom the Indians got for Kluber, also aren’t playing right now.
TEXAS RANGERS STARTING PITCHER COREY KLUBER