DETROIT (AP) -Until Joel Zumaya actually returns to the mound, Detroit manager Jim Leyland isn’t counting on seeing the hard-throwing reliever for a long time.
“The reports are that Joel Zumaya will be back in August,” Leyland said Friday. “However I’m not in any way, shape or form counting on that, and it would not surprise me if he was not ready to pitch before the season is over.”
Zumaya had surgery in mid-May to repair a ruptured tendon in his right middle finger. At the time, he was expected to miss three months.
Zumaya, whose fastball regularly tops 100 mph, was 1-1 with a 3.63 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 13 appearances this season. He was 6-3 in 62 appearances during his rookie season last year and ranked third among AL relievers with 97 strikeouts.
Leyland said there have been no setbacks and he has heard nothing from the team’s medical staff.
“I’m looking at like I’m managing this team this year without Joel Zumaya, and if I get him back in August or Sept. 1 that’s a big bonus,” he said.
Reliever Fernando Rodney came off the disabled list Tuesday against Texas after being out with biceps tendinitis.
Catcher Vance Wilson may be done for the year, however. He reaggravated his sore right forearm throwing long toss before Thursday’s Triple-A game in Toledo against Syracuse. He had three at-bats while playing DH until the third inning, when he took himself out of the game due to soreness.
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