JUNE 6: Follow-up testing on Turnbull confirmed the issue is indeed muscular, not structural, in nature. Turnbull has a bit of forearm inflammation, Hinch said (via Evan Woodbery of MLive.com), but the team is “very happy with the initial diagnosis.”
JUNE 5: The Tigers announced that right-hander Spencer Turnbull has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right forearm strain. Righty Bryan Garcia has been called up from Triple-A Toledo to take Turnbull’s spot on the active roster.
The move isn’t a surprise, after Turnbull left last night’s start after four innings. Though he was still pitching well (one ER on two hits and no walks, with four strikeouts), Turnbull was experiencing forearm tightness and the Tigers opted to pull him from the game.
More will be known about Turnbull’s injury in due time, but manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (including MLB.com’s Jason Beck) that “the initial diagnosis is positive,” since Turnbull’s problem seems to be muscular rather than structural. Another good sign was that Turnbull didn’t appear to be in severe pain, as Hinch said that the righty “fought to stay in the game.”
The IL placement interrupts that has already been a memorable season for Turnbull, who authored a no-hitter back on May 18 and has looked solid over an even 50 innings pitched in 2021. Turnbull has a 2.88 ERA/3.71 SIERA, with a big 57.2% grounder rate, six percent walk rate, and some strong soft-contact numbers that have allowed him to succeed despite not missing many bats (21.9% strikeout rate).
Jose Urena could serve as a ready-made replacement for Turnbull, as Urena is scheduled to start Sunday in his own return from the injured list. Urena is back after only a minimum 10 days after a forearm strain of his own, so his situation would represent the best-case scenario for Turnbull if his forearm problem is also relatively minor. Since Michael Fulmer isn’t likely to be shifted out of relief work and Julio Teheran isn’t ready to return from the 60-day IL, the Tigers could turn to the opener strategy to fill the open spot in the rotation, or perhaps turn to Tyler Alexander or a minor league call-up.
Ouch, that’s not good. Turnbull is a promising young pitcher, hate to see this.
Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
And now Fulmer is on IL
RIP he was so young
Do you say this on every article about a pitcher who gets injured?
Another byproduct of pitchers using substances for better grip is increased strain on the elbow. This is a general comment, not directed at Turnbull, but it could explain why we’re seeing an increase in arm injuries, as well as a seeming increase in teams proactively putting pitchers on the IL with forearm strains. In the past, a forearm strain was often a precursor of TJS. Not sure that’s as true now as teams are shutting down pitchers earlier.
How does that make sense to you physiologically?
Also, the use of sticky substances for better grip is not new this year or even this decade so it doesn’t explain anything to do with the rash of injuries. The most likely reason for those injuries is instead the loss of last year’s season and lack of innings then quick ramp up this spring training.
Do you actually believe this bull? Do you really believe there was nothing being used in the past?
Phew
He never heard of Gaylord Perry.
It’s nice having a farm system again, one that has options available when this sort of thing happens. Took 6 years to build the farm back up. That’s a lesson for those GMs, like Dombrowski, who go all in, year after year, chasing a crown. Just isn’t worth it.
You mean? Not worth it for the fans in the long term.?
The Doms’ paycheck says Johnie all over it……
Fans, organization as a whole, baseball in general
Anyone not named Dombroski
Some of us enjoyed watching the Tigers chase all those crowns for so many years. And one would be hard pressed to name any minor leaguers who got a way and was really missed.
Not only has Turnbull become an excellent pitcher, but he’s an even better human being. He went to Africa to help Matthew & Mrs. Boyd with their homes/schools for girls. They aren’t just throwing money at a problem, but going to Africa to be with the girls and show they truly care. Otherwise, these girls would probably end up victims of sex trafficking or taken as young brides by Boko Haram terrorists. I hope Red Bull’s elbow recovers without surgery, and that he stays a world-class human being.
it personally says a lot more in my mind when you actually go and help out a cause in person. as you said, its easy to just throw money at a problem and hope you’re making a difference/improving your image. actually physically helping out really does show you care.
Al, Al, Al…..
Chris, Chris, Chris….
Judy, Judy, Judy……
Marcia, Marcia, Marcia…
Hopefully a short stay on the IL and he’ll be back in short order.
There is a reason gamblers bet heavily on a no-hit pitcher to lose their first start afterwards. Apparently there is a major negative trend.
The cause seems so obvious. I look at it as fatigue-based. Tissue micro-tearing happens on every major league pitch. Icing and some recovery/healing time is thus required.
A complete game no-hitter often means 3 innings more than usual with each extra pitch naturally thrown at ultra-max effort. Extra tearing results. More recovery time needed. Duh.
But, no. Keep to the schedule. It is unmanly to give in to perceived pitcher fatigue (what, this is the one sports area where”load management” is strictly for sissies?). I do not understand the refusal of clubs to recognize this.
SKIP ONE START! That might be all it takes to avoid calamity.
With all the late-game sliders Turnbull was spinning on his big night, it was obvious this was coming. I hope it’s muscle-based. Ran him out there too soon. He’s not Warren Spahn and this isn’t 1963. Training changed and thus so has the modern starting pitcher’s late-game tolerance.
Skip a start after a no-no. Can a brother get an amen?
Makes sense. Amen!
Please explain why back when pitchers were not getting the million dollar paychecks, and had to find a 2nd job in the winter, they were.able to pitch more innings per game with less time off between games. Now that they get paid millions, and have the time and resources to stay in better shape year round, they need to be coddled more and can’t throw more than 100 pitches every 5 days. I would have expected just the opposite.
Good question, I think the pitcher back then were pitchers and now they are throwers.
This is on a need to know basis, and I need to know. How is it Chris forgot to hire me?