This article talks about how I am on the Disabled List again, but not for the reasons you would think...
Hey Columbus Sports Fans!
I’ve had several people ask me what’s wrong with me considering I’m on the 7-day Disabled List for the second time this season. Long story short, I’m on what’s called the Phantom Disabled List.
In MLB there is a maximum of 25 players allowed on the roster at a time. There are usually 11 to 13 pitchers (5 starters, 6-8 relievers) on a staff, and the rest are filled with position players. From time to time throughout the season there are injured major league players that need rehab appearances at one or more of the minor league levels. In most cases those major league players are on Major League Rehab Assignments and don’t take up a roster spot on a minor league team. In my unfortunate case, the Blue Jays decided to take one of their pitchers off the major league roster, forcing him to take up a spot on our team’s roster. In order to add him to our roster, you can probably guess what they had to do…take a player off our roster.
I am officially on the Disabled List for an injury that doesn’t really exist. Hence, the Phantom Disabled List. There is no definitive date that I will be removed from the DL, but once the organization feels the former big-leaguer has served enough time here, they will move him up to another level and activate me back to the 25-man roster. I’m the third different pitcher that has been put on the Phantom DL this season, so it is a common occurrence in the minor leagues. In the mean time, I am still participating in everything with the team. I throw extensive bullpens every third day and just wait for my time to get reactivated. Baseball is a crazy game and it doesn’t make things any easier when situations like this come up. However, it does give my arm some rest and I’ll be fully healthy for the last month of the season to help give a strong push through the playoffs.
As always feel free to post any comments or questions. Also, check out stats and profiles of all of your former Buckeye players on www.milb.com
Thanks for reading!