Rangers’ Corey Kluber could be done for year with shoulder injury
Two-time AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber could be done for the season after one inning for the Texas Rangers.
He has a tear in a small muscle in his right shoulder that won’t require surgery, but even in the best-case scenario in this shortened season he won’t throw again for at least four weeks, which is when he will be evaluated again.
“It’s a blow, there’s no getting around it,” said Jon Daniels, the team’s president and general manager.
Daniels said Monday an MRI revealed a Grade 2 tear. The 34-year-old right-hander will receive a platelet-rich plasma injection this week.
“Given the time frame here and the nature of a 60-game schedule and everything that goes with it, the timeline is not on our side,” Daniels said.
The Rangers didn’t immediately make a roster move, but Kluber is headed to the injured list. Daniels said young left-hander Kolby Allard, who made nine starts as a rookie last season, will fill Kluber’s spot in the rotation.
Kluber exited Sunday’s home game against Colorado after one scoreless inning with tightness behind his shoulder. It was his first start in the majors since May 1, 2019, when he broke his right forearm on a liner. He injured his side during rehab last summer.
The Rangers acquired Kluber in a trade from Cleveland in December, adding him to a rotation with All-Star left-hander Mike Minor and hard-throwing veteran Lance Lynn.
Texas has an $18 million club option for 2021, with a $1 million buyout, but Daniels said it was too early to think about that. The GM did say the Rangers acquired Kluber with the mind-set to have him beyond the season, adding the setback doesn’t necessarily change that desire.
Kluber was Cleveland’s Opening Day starter each of the past five seasons, part of a stretch when he was one of...