Former Dodger first round draft pick, Chris Withrow, will miss a few days of workouts because of a back injury that is causing him to have back spasms. The 23-year old right hander experienced the back spasms during a bullpen session on Friday. Withrow had been sidelined before in the past due to bulging disks, but the MRI results showed no damage.
Withrow had also suffered minor injuries because of a car accident this past winter.
Withrow was drafted by the Dodgers in the first round of the 2007 amateur draft, but has been disappointing, having yet to reach the majors. Withrow has pitched for the Lookouts for the last four seasons. Withrow has struggled to limit walks, but has put up good strikeout numbers. He will be moving from a starter to a reliever, for the first time in his career. Withrow finished 2012, with a 3-3 record, 4.65 ERA, and two saves, in 22 games pitched. He started seven games last season, but will pitch primarily out of the bullpen this season. Withrow has a career 5.0 walk per nine rate, and 9.3 whiff per nine rate, with a 21-26 record, and 4.87 ERA across six minor league seasons.
Withrow told the media that he isn’t used to missing time because of injuries. He stated, that it’s new to him, but that he would take it easy over the next couple of days, and then be ready to go once he takes care of his back injury. Withrow isn’t expected to miss more than a few days.
In other minor injury news from Camp, another former Lookouts pitcher - reliever Kenley Jansen - had an ingrown toenail removed on Monday, but was able to make his regular bullpen session on Sunday without discomfort. Jansen was able to participate in pitcher’s fielding practice, after missing part of Saturday’s workouts because of the bad toe.
--- Source: Lasorda’s Lair
Kenley Jensen
- Photo2 by Tim Evearitt