The bumpy career of for first round draft pick Eric Arnett may have hit another setback.Arnett will have team physician Dr. William Raasch evaluate a possible torn ACL in his right knee on Wednesday in Phoenix, the club announced Tuesday. If the ACL is torn and surgery is required, Raasch will perform the surgery on Thursday, causing Arnett to miss the majority, if not all of the 2013 season.
Arnett, 25, told the team he suffered the injury doing shuttle runs while preparing for spring training.
Taken 26th overall in the 2009 draft out of Indiana University, Arnett has not lived up to expectations. The right-hander struggled as a starter, posting a 1-13 record with a 6.29 ERA in 25 games over the course of two seasons for Single-A Wisconsin.
The Brewers moved Arnett to the bullpen prior to last season and the move appeared to have jumpstarted his career. The 25-year-old made 33 relief appearances for Single-A Advanced Brevard County and had a 3.56 ERA in 60 2/3 innings.
Arnett was expected to make the jump and start the season with Double-A Huntsville, but a torn ACL would all but end his season and serve as another significant setback in his quest to prove worthy of being a first round pick.
After being drafted in 2009, Arnett went 0-4 with a 4.41 ERA in 14 appearances in rookie ball. Moved to Wisconsin for the 2010 season, the 6-foot-5 right-hander went 1-9 with a 6.70 ERA.
A shoulder injury limited Arnett to just 14 games between rookie ball and Single-A in 2011.
Follow Andrew Gruman on Twitter.
