PHOENIX – Diamondbacks right-hander Daniel Hudson was placed on the disabled list with an impingement in his right shoulder Saturday, the latest test for the D-backs in a season that isn't even three weeks old.
Hudson felt stiffness the day after his start in 42-degree weather in Colorado on April 13 and said it never left, even in a strong outing in which gave up two runs in 7 2/3 innings of a 2-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday. An MRI on Friday showed no structural damage, the D-backs said, and Hudson is hoping for a quick return while coping with a diagnosis no pitcher wants to here.
“It’s scary, yeah, especially if you’ve never felt it before,” said Hudson, 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in three starts after winning 16 games in 2011.
“All the worst thoughts go through your mind. You hear so many stories about guys who don’t bounce back well from shoulder injuries. You just pray for the best.”
An impingement occurs when the tendons around the shoulder become inflamed, prohibiting the natural movement and free flow through the joint.
“I’ll get some anti-inflammatories in me and hopefully it works,” Hudson said.
Wade Miley is the in-house candidate to take Hudson’s next scheduled start Monday, manager Kirk Gibson said, although plans would change if Miley is needed in relief in the final two games of the Atlanta series Saturday and Sunday. If Miley moves into the rotation, Craig Breslow could become the long man in the bullpen. He threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings Friday.
D-backs prospects Trevor Bauer, Patrick Corbin and Tyler Skaggs are off to impressive starts at Double-A Mobile and could be backup candidates to start Tuesday, Gibson indicated. Bauer is 3-0 with an 0.57 ERA, Corbin is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and Skaggs is 0-2 with a 3.63 ERA. Bauer made his scheduled start for Mobile on Saturday, all but eliminating his candidacy for a Monday start here.
“I guess anything is possible. Right now, it’s day-by-day. Things are coming at us pretty quick. We’ll reevaluate after the game today,” Gibson said Saturday afternoon.
The D-backs also received some bad news when Takashi Saito suffered a setback. His calf acted up while he took pitcher’s fielding practice during an off day at Single-A Visalia on Friday. Saito came out of his first mound appearance Thursday in good shape, but could not complete the defensive drills.
Reliever Jonathan Albaladejo was added to the roster Saturday when Hudson was placed on the disabled list.
The D-backs already have lost Geoff Blum (oblique) and Chris Young (shoulder) to the disabled list and are playing without shortstop Stephen Drew (ankle). While Drew looked good while running the bases hard at Chase Field on Saturday afternoon, he is still a ways away. Justin Upton (thumb) was back in the lineup Saturday after missing four starts.
“Hudson is a big part of the rotation. It’s a huge miss for at least two weeks. Unfortunately, we are going through a situation with a lot of guys being hurt. We have to deal with it and keep playing hard. It’s what the game is about,” catcher Miguel Montero said.
“When it rains, it pours. But that’s all right. We’ll be fine."
Hudson was 16-12 with a 3.49 ERA in 222 innings last season, all career-high numbers in his first full season in a major league rotation. He was calm as he spoke to reporters immediately in the clubhouse after the D-backs watched the ninth inning of Phil Humber’s perfect game for the White Sox.
“I didn’t really bounce back that well after my start in Colorado. I haven’t felt that good since then. It was one of those things that we didn’t want to push it as far as we already had. Might as well take some time now and get it better,” Hudson said.
“I’d rather be safe than sorry in April and be ready to go in September and October.”
As for the inordinate amount of injuries so early in the season, Hudson said: “It’s frustrating, but it’s just a rough patch we’re going through right now. Hopefully, we’ll have no setbacks from anybody and get everybody back healthy as soon as we can.”
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