Why It’s ‘Embarrassing’ To Red Sox Pitcher To Land On Injured List

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Walker Buehler initially feared the worst when he felt discomfort in his right shoulder.

That’s what happens after Buehler already went through a couple of significant injuries in his MLB career.

But following further diagnosis of his injury, Buehler can rest easy knowing that it’s not severe. The Red Sox placed the veteran right-hander on the 15-day injured list Friday due to bursitis in his pitching shoulder. Buehler doesn’t expect it to be a very long stay on the IL.

“I was just concerned that it was something more than it was and luckily it wasn’t,” Buehler told reporters prior to Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “I’m a guy that has pitched through a lot of things. The fact it was just bursitis and I had to go on the IL is embarrassing for me in some ways. I think there are certain things you have to check off during the week to be able to go and start a major league game and I wasn’t able to do those things. All in all, I think it’s the right thing. Hopefully, I miss two or maybe a third start, but it shouldn’t be anything major.”

Buehler said he started experiencing an issue with his shoulder during his April 15 start against the Tampa Bay Rays. The ailment didn’t impact the results on the mound for the 30-year-old, though. After a tough start to the season, Buehler went 3-0 over his last four starts with a 2.59 ERA and held opponents to a .209 batting average to go along with 22 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings.

The Red Sox shut down Buehler, who underwent Tommy John surgery twice while with the Los Angeles Dodgers, from throwing for three days and he also received an MRI. Buehler got an injection in his shoulder to help with the injury as well. He is expecting to play catch Monday and if all goes well with his rehab, he will return around May 14 when he’s first eligible to come off the IL.

Going on the IL certainly isn’t the route Buehler wanted to take, but in the long run, he knows that’s it’s best for him and the Red Sox.

“My past four (starts) I’ve been pretty happy,” Buehler said. “Obviously, not the time that you want to go in the IL, when you’re feeling pretty good. At the end of the day, I’m here in Boston to play in October and I’m trying to get this stuff put to bed now so I can progress through the season. It’s the right idea. It’s not something I want to deal with for two or three or four months and try and keep dragging myself out there. I’d rather clean it up and hopefully build on what we have been doing.”