The bad news keeps rolling in for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Just 24 hours after leadoff hitter Lenny Dykstra broke a bone in his wrist in the season opener, the Phillies announced right-handed starter Jose DeJesus had a torn rotator cuff and probably would undergo surgery.
DeJesus is coming off the best season of his career (10-9, 3.42 earned-run average) and figured to be the Phillies` No. 3 starter. But he hurt his arm in spring training and was placed on the disabled list last weekend.
Dr. Phillip Marone, the Phillies` team physician, examined DeJesus Wednesday and discovered the torn rotator cuff as well as two lesser shoulder injuries.
Marone said DeJesus would visit Dr. Frank Jobe, a sports specialist, April 16 in Los Angeles to get a second opinion. But based on what he saw, Marone said DeJesus would require surgery and at least one year to recover. The injury could be career-threatening.
Positive thinking: While he was full of gloom and doom about DeJesus, Marone had upbeat things to say about Dykstra. Dykstra was put in a removable splint and placed on the 15-day disabled list. Marone said it was ”realistically optimistic” to think Dykstra could play later this month-perhaps even in 15 days.
Farm Cub: Right-hander Jeff D. Robinson reported to Triple-A Iowa Wednesday. Robinson was one of the last two pitchers cut by the Cubs at the end of spring training. He was 2-1 with a 1.98 ERA after being invited to camp as a non-roster tryout. General Manager Larry Himes gave him 72 hours to try to sign with another team, but Robinson failed.
Career spring: Second baseman Ryne Sandberg is famous for his slow starts, but this could be the year he breaks tradition. His home run in the first inning of Wednesday night`s game tied his total for last April, when he hit .202. In his first 10 trips to the plate, Sandberg was 4 for 8 with a sacrifice fly and a walk.
Leading off: Shortstop Shawon Dunston was reluctant to accept the leadoff role when Jerome Walton went on the disabled list. But so far, he is doing the job. He is hitting .333 with a walk, two stolen bases and two runs scored in his first 10 plate appearances.