The Diamondbacks have placed right-hander Taijuan Walker on the disabled list with inflammation in his pitching shoulder, per a team announcement. In a corresponding move, they recalled righty Silvino Bracho from Triple-A Reno.
The severity of Walker’s injury isn’t yet known, evidenced by the fact that he’ll undergo an MRI on Monday (via Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic). Walker had to leave his Saturday start against the Dodgers after just two innings because of forearm tightness, which often portends major injuries for pitchers.
Arizona’s left to hope it’s nothing serious for the 25-year-old, especially considering its depth issues behind the impressive starting quintet of Zack Greinke, Zack Godley, Robbie Ray, Patrick Corbin and Walker. Other potential starters on their 40-man roster include Braden Shipley, Matt Koch and Troy Scribner, though no one from that trio is remotely established at the major league level.
Conversely, Walker has served as a quality big leaguer for the majority of his career, which began as a high-end prospect with the Mariners in 2013. Seattle ended up trading Walker to Arizona in a November 2016 blockbuster that also featured the likes of Jean Segura, Mitch Haniger and Ketel Marte. Walker has since amassed 170 1/3 innings of 3.49 ERA ball while posting 8.19 K/9, 3.49 BB/9 and a 48.4 percent groundball rate.
This is why Seattle traded him. He’s always nicked up! Talented but will never become the Felix Hernandez people thought he was going to be.
Kid finally gets it all together and now he is headed for Tommy John surgery.
Tommy John in the shoulder, that’s a new one…
The article indicated he left yesterday’s game early due to forearm tightness, but was placed on the DL for shoulder inflammation. It would truly suck if he actually has both elbow and shoulder issues.
Dbacks can always call on John Lackey. Not the ideal option, but the man can eat innings and keep them in most ballgames.
Well with any luck Miller can come back and be decent. Was doing unusually well before going down if I recall.