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Phillies' Pettibone confident shoulder woes behind him

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Jonathan Pettibone visited three doctors and underwent several MRI exams last year but never got an answer as to what was ailing his pitching shoulder.

Phillies starter Jonathan Pettibone gave up 8 runs on 9 hits in the four innings he pitched Friday night against the Colorado Rockies.
Phillies starter Jonathan Pettibone gave up 8 runs on 9 hits in the four innings he pitched Friday night against the Colorado Rockies.Read more

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Jonathan Pettibone visited three doctors and underwent several MRI exams last year but never got an answer as to what was ailing his pitching shoulder.

It was not until a surgeon looked inside his shoulder, the 24-year-old righthander said Saturday, that Pettibone learned the problem. He underwent an operation June 17 to repair a labrum tear. His 2015 season will begin after most of the other starters in the Phillies' major-league camp.

"It was a relief, I guess, at the time," he said of finally discerning the reason for his shoulder problems. "At the same time, you're missing a whole other half of the year and then parts of this coming year. It was definitely frustrating."

Pettibone said he is probably a couple of weeks away from pitching to hitters in batting practice. Among the 28 pitchers in spring training, only Pettibone and veteran righthander Chad Billingsley, coming off shoulder surgeries in each of the last two years, have yet to throw live batting practice.

On Sunday, Pettibone will throw his third bullpen session of spring training. His first two consisted of 25 pitches each. That number is expected to steadily increase beginning Sunday. A few April rehab starts with the Phillies' high-A Clearwater affiliate could be in store.

As far as how his shoulder and arm feel, Pettibone said he believes he is on schedule with the prescribed recovery time.

"It's a little tight, just kind of grinding through these last couple days, starting to throw bullpens, stretching out my long toss and everything," he said. "But it's coming along great, and we haven't really had any setbacks, so that's definitely a positive."

Two seasons ago, the 6-foot-6 Pettibone experienced some success in 18 starts for the Phillies. He logged 1001/3 innings and recorded a 4.04 ERA. But shoulder soreness during a late July outing in Detroit led to a premature end to his rookie season.

The shoulder problems returned early in last year's spring training. The former third-round draft pick made two April starts for the Phillies - he allowed one earned run in five innings and then eight in four frames - and five others for triple-A Lehigh Valley before his season ended.

Once he pitches to hitters this spring, he will need to build arm strength before he's ready to start games again. Upon returning to health, he would probably slot into the triple-A rotation with a chance to eventually return to the Phillies' starting five if there are injuries or trades.

"He just needs to pitch," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He needs to get some innings under his belt. He needs to do it at a pace that makes sense for him, since he was injured last year.

"So I'd say 'behind schedule' is the right way to put it, but then again, the buildup of giving him innings and letting him pitch just to reestablish himself and to make sure that he's healthy, that's the key for him."

At the very least, the recurring shoulder woes appear to be behind him.

"Any time after surgery, you're kind of uneasy about the whole situation," Pettibone said. "But with no setbacks . . . I've been staying positive with everything."

@jakemkaplan