Baseball America on Cubs Pitching Prospects
The “Daily Dish” by Josh Boyd for July 2 has some news on Cubs pitching prospects:
While Cubs prospect Angel Guzman takes a couple days to decide how to go about rehabbing his ailing right shoulder, there was still more bad news on the injury front for the organization.
Righthander Matt Clanton, selected in the supplemental first round last year out of Orange Coast (Calif.) College, is likely going to need to get an MRI on his right shoulder. He made one appearance in the Rookie-level Arizona League this year before being shut down. After signing last July, Clanton was limited to two innings in the short-season Northwest League due to biceps tendinitis.
Lefty Justin Jones, who is 3-3, 2.51 for low Class A Lansing, hasn’t pitched in more than two weeks because of shoulder tendinitis, though Cubs farm director Oneri Fleita said the injury is not a major concern. “We just wanted to back off with him a little bit.”
The Cubs were optimistic about the return of righthander Ben Christensen, who made his return to the mound in Class A Daytona. Christensen missed most of last season after having Tommy John surgery in June.
(Thanks to reader Michael C. for the link.)
It’s amazing what injuries will do to a young player in terms of completely taking him out of fans’ perception. I had forgotten about Clanton, who was the 38th overall pick in the 2002 draft.