Danny Salazar Apparently Tried to Pitch Through a Groin Injury in Return to Indians
By Parker White
The Cleveland Indians had to be more willing to trade Trevor Bauer with right-handed starter Danny Salazar coming off the shelf and making his season debut on Thursday.
However, in his first start in the big leagues since 2017, Salazar only lasted four innings and his fastball didn't even max out at 90 mph.
Danny Salazar's first start since 2017 is done. His final line:
— matt (@MattyEagIes) August 2, 2019
4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 Ks, 2 HRs.
His fastball velocity maxed out at 88.3 mph.
That doesn't look like a healthy pitcher to me, especially one who sat in the upper-90's with his fastball throughout majority of his career.
Well, that's because he wasn't healthy. According to the Indians, Salazar has a groin issue, one which he decided to pitch through on Thursday evening.
#Indians have announced that P Danny Salazar has a groin issued. He tried to pitch through it last night and did not have much success.
— Bernie Pleskoff (@BerniePleskoff) August 2, 2019
“We’re gonna check it out tomorrow and see how bad it is,” Salazar said. “I don’t think it’s something really bad. It happened to me in Arizona, like, two months ago. I didn’t feel it after until today."
Some thoughts on Danny Salazar's debut, what the Indians could do if he's hurt, the tough stretch this month and more https://t.co/I0h65ZeTA4
— James Rapien (@JamesRapien) August 2, 2019
Salazar doesn't seem too worried about the groin injury, and maybe he won't miss a lot of time. However, the Indians can't throw him back out there for his next start if they feel there is any chance this creeps up again.
Luckily for Cleveland, Corey Kluber will throw a simulated game this weekend and will begin a rehab assignment if all goes well. Kluber is still weeks away from returning, so the Indians will need to dip into their minor league system to replace Salazar in the meantime.