Atlanta Braves Tyrell Jenkins To The DL

Mar 12, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher

(63) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday night Atlanta Braves prospect Tyrell Jenkins left his start after 2 1/3 innings and today went on the disabled list with a fatigued shoulder.

Prospect or Suspect?

TINSTASPP.  When Jenkins arrived in Atlanta as part of the return for Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden he was quickly inserted as the Braves number four prospect. He started the year with Mississippi where he pitched to a 3.00 ERA in 16 starts. That sounds pretty good but a look inside showed an FIP of 3.85, a WHIP of 1.344 and managed only 5.71 K/9 and an underwhelming 3.97 BB/9 in 93IP. Gwinnett was in need of a starter and Jenkins should have been ready to move up.

Selected by the Cardinals as in first supplemental round of the 2010 draft (50th overall), Jenkins threw just three innings in the rookie league before the season ended. In 2011 he remained in the rookie league all year making 11 starts with a 4.23 K/BB ratio and a 3.86 ERA but threw just 56 innings or about five innings a start.

In 2012 he moved up to A ball and made 19 starts. His era rose to 5.14 behind a of WHIP of 1.457 and his K?bb ratio collapsed to 2.22 and his19 starts amounted to 82 1/3 IP or 4 1/3 innings per start.

The Cardinals kept him in A ball to start 2013. In his 10 starts there he pitched to a 4.74 ERA, 1.520 WHIP in 49 1/3 IP with miniscule 1.60 K/BB ratio as he struck out 34 and walked 24. Once again he managed just 5 IP/game.

In June the Cardinals promoted Jenkins to A+ ball but in June but exited his first start on June 7 start with what was later diagnosed as a shoulder strain. He returned to the mound later that month, made two starts of 3 1/3 and 6 2/3 innings respectively but left his July seventh start after facing just one batter. Closer examination revealed  a torn latissimus muscle in his right shoulder.  The shoulder was surgically repaired on August eighth with a projected 6 to 8 month recovery period.

Just over a year after he first reported trouble with his shoulder Jenkins made his first start of 2014 with A+ Palm Beach in the Florida league. He made 13 starts that year posting a 3.28 ERA, 1.311 WHIP in 74IP (5 2/3 a game) while his K/BB was just 1.78 and his 4.31 FIP.  He took part in the Arizona Fall League last year as well making 6 starts and throwing 24 1/3 innings  so on the year he threw 98 1/3 total innings.

It it a shoulder injury or not?

Shoulders are complicated things. There are so many moving parts in the joint that it’s hard to get it right with surgery even if the surgery goes perfectly.  Jenkins injury in 2013 wasn’t his shoulder – well not directly his shoulder anyway, he torn his lat.

According to the Sports Injury Clinic, “the Latissimus dorsi muscle is one of the largest in the body. It is a powerful extensor muscle of the arm and is used extensively in chinning and climbing. . .” It’s responsible for shoulder extension, internal rotation and adduction;the movement of the arm inwards to the side of the body, So he didn’t mess up the joint but he did tear the biggest muscle that controls movement of the shoulder and arm.

The good news about the injury is that it’s a muscle and not a tendon or ligament. Unlike the later duo, muscles can be strengthened and returned to game fitness so while the it was painful and a setback it wasn’t the problematic shoulder joint. So the shoulder itself isn’t a problem, the ongoing strength of the shoulder may be and I have other concerns.