John Danks will not be pitching for the Chicago White Sox anytime soon. A recent MRI revealed a Grade 1 tear of the subscapularis tendon in Danks' left shoulder. The good news is the South Siders' Opening Day starter is unlikely to need surgery. The bad news is that there's no timetable for his return. South Side Sox wondered if the injury might keep Danks out until September.
The 27-year old lefty is on the 15-day DL and hasn't pitched since May 19 against the Chicago Cubs. It would appear as if this stint on the sidelines is about to be a lot longer than 15 days.
Here's a nice explanation of the injury from U-God at SSS:
[The subscapularis tendon] connects the scapula (shoulder blade) to the humerus and the shoulder capsule, forming the largest part of the rotator cuff. It's primary responsibilities include internal rotation of the humeral head (moving the humerus towards your chest) and preventing the ever exciting forward subluxation (dislocated shoulder). As with all muscles, the tendons are always liable to tear under great strain. Pitching definitely counts.
This is where the grading comes in. A Grade 0 tear means nothing is out of the ordinary. That's what most normal people would look like. Grade 1 involves some fraying or other irregularities of the tendon. Grade 2 involves a more extensive tear, but with the muscle still attached to the bone. By the time you hit Grade 3, the tendon is completely torn through
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