Carl Pavano's 2012 season is over.
The Minnesota Twins right-hander will be shut down for the rest of the year after a new diagnosis on what was originally deemed a sore right shoulder, according to multiple reports. After seeing Dr. David Altchek, Pavano was diagnosed with a bruise on his humerus bone, an injury that requires time to heal.
"The good news is it doesn't require surgery," Pavano told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "I've had this in the past and gotten through it, and obviously I've pitched a lot since then. But as far as I'm concerned this whole season has been a failure on many levels, for myself, for the team.”
Pavano, 36, last pitched for the Twins on June 1 before going on the disabled list. When he was pitching, Pavano’s velocity was down significantly from where it was even a season ago. After being checked out by doctors, Pavano was diagnosed with a right shoulder strain.
He recently made two starts with Class A Fort Myers as part of a rehab assignment but pitched just five total innings. He met with Dr. Altchek in New York on Tuesday, where he received the diagnosis of a bruise on his humerus bone.
Pavano, who has been with the Twins since August 2009, will be a free agent after the season, and it’s possible his time in Minnesota is done. In 2010 and 2011, Pavano was a workhouse for the Twins, pitching in 221 and 222 innings, respectively. He went 17-11 with seven complete games in 2010 to help Minnesota win the American League Central.
This season, however, Pavano was just 2-5 with a 6.00 ERA in 11 starts before landing on the DL. In 14 major league seasons, he’s 108-107 with a 4.39 ERA.
“I don't know what the future holds," Pavano told the Pioneer Press. “We did some really good things in my time here, and if I were healthy I'd be another piece to help us be more consistent. I'm disappointed."
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