News
Rehabbing Westbrook to rest 14 days
DeRosa a late scratch as Indians play Cubs in Chicago
By Jesse Temple / MLB.com
06/20/09 1:25 PM ET
CHICAGO --- Jake Westbrook's return to Major League action from Tommy John ligament replacement surgery has taken a minor step back.
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Westbrook, who was scheduled to make his third rehab start on Wednesday for Triple-A Columbus, was a late scratch because of elbow soreness and he has not thrown since.
Indians head athletic trainer Lonnie Soloff said on Saturday that Westbrook had been put on a 14-day no-throw plan, pushing back his scheduled return to the Indians.
"We were hoping that he'd be [back] late June or early July," Soloff said. "Now it may be late July or early August. It's from the 12-month timeframe to the 13-month timeframe, which is still OK. But Jake wants to pitch another eight to 10 years. We respect our short-term needs but also consider Jake's long-term goals, so that's what we're doing."
Westbrook underwent ulnar collateral ligament surgery, better known as Tommy John surgery, in June 2008 on his right elbow.
Soloff said Westbrook received a full examination in Cleveland last week and everything looked structurally intact.
Westbrook last started a Major League game on May 28, 2008, against the White Sox. He went five innings, allowing three runs on five hits but experienced soreness in his elbow, which eventually led to the surgery.
He is 63-64 with a 4.31 ERA in nine big league seasons.
In other injury news, Indians left fielder Mark DeRosa was a late scratch from Saturday's game with a left hip contusion. DeRosa injured the hip during Friday's game when he collided into a metal foam box attached to the brick wall up the left-field line while attempting to track down a foul ball from Rich Harden in the third inning.
Jhonny Peralta moved up from sixth in the batting order to take DeRosa's spot at No. 2. Chris Gimenez replaced DeRosa in left field.
Soloff also discussed the progress of several other Indians players dealing with injuries.
Aaron Laffey, who has been on the disabled list since May 23 with a strained right oblique, was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday at Progressive Field, Soloff said. Laffey made his first rehab start since the injury with Triple-A Columbus on Thursday. He threw three innings, allowing one run on five hits with one walk.
Grady Sizemore, who has been out with a left elbow injury, threw out to 120 feet on Saturday, according to Soloff.
"We're slowly ramping him up, and at this point, he's responded favorably to the increase in baseball activity," Soloff said.
Asdrubal Cabrera, meanwhile, has been out with a sprained left shoulder joint.
"We'll have a better idea after he hits [Saturday] and takes ground balls," Soloff said "Hopefully in the next five to seven days, barring a setback, he'll be ready to play in a game."
And pitcher Rafael Betancourt, out with a strained right groin, has been tossing out to 105 feet, according to Soloff. Betancourt was not expected back until July or early August.
"We originally thought four to six weeks, and I think we may end up at the shorter end of that," Soloff said.
Jesse Temple is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
