There has been a rash of pitching injuries across baseball from every level from the majors through the minors and amatuer ranks.  For the most part the focus has been on Tommy John injuries, but the Phillies have had larger problems with injuries to all parts of pitchers bodies.  For the most part I am going to focus on the past year and a half, but I will also pull in pitchers who have affected the last few years who were injured in previous seasons.

Cliff Lee – LHP – Age: 35
Pitches: Fastball, Curveball, Changeup, Cutter
Injury: Left Elbow Strain
Background: Lee pitched with elbow soreness for over a month.  The Phillies have opted for rest, fastball velocity down to start the year.

Jonathan Pettibone – RHP – Age: 22
Pitches: Fastball, Changeup, Slider
Injury: Torn Labrum
Background:  Pettibone was injured late in 2013 and has opted for rest over surgery.

Ethan Martin – RHP – Age: 24
Pitches: Fastball, Curveball, Slider, Changeup
Injury: Shoulder Soreness
Background: In Spring Training Martin experienced decreased velocity and shoulder soreness, but no structural damage.  After rest Martin has seen his velocity start to return and has pitched without setback on rehab assignments.

Cole Hamels – LHP – Age: 30
Pitches: Fastball, Changeup, Cutter, Curveball
Injury: Bicep Tendonitis
Background: No structural damage, the injury did delay Hamels’ start to spring training by close to a month, has returned to dominance on major league level.

Shane Watson – RHP – Age: 19
Pitches: Fastball, Curveball, Changeup, Cutter
Injury: Shoulder Inflammation
Background:  There is a good chance that the original injury was sustained before Watson was drafted.  This injury has been more recurring stiffness and inflammation, but lacks structural damage, however surgery was decision in January 2014.  Most recent news was Watson tweeting that he received good news from the doctor at the latest check up.

Adam Morgan – LHP – Age: 23
Pitches: Fastball, Slider, Changeup, Curveball
Injury: Torn Labrum
Background:  After a couple attempted recoveries due to rest, the Phillies and Morgan opted for surgery in January.  Morgan experienced decreased velocity during the injury.

Yoel Mecias – LHP – Age: 19
Pitches: Fastball, Changeup, Slider
Injury: Torn UCL (Tommy John Surgery)
Background:  In his second year of professional ball, pitching more than he has before Mecias’s elbow gave out and he had surgery in July 2013.

Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez – RHP – Age: 27
Pitches: Fastball, Slider, Curveball, Changeup, Sinker, Splitter, Knuckleball
Injury: Shoulder Inflammation
Background:  Only the Phillies medical staff actually know what is going on in MAG’s arm.

Michael Stutes – RHP – Age: 25
Pitches: Fastball, Slider, Changeup
Injury: Shoulder Inflammation (arthroscopic surgery)
Background:  Early in the 2012 season Stutes experienced a sharp drop in fastball velocity and shoulder inflammation.  After an attempt at rest, Stutes had surgery.  He has not fully recovered his stuff or his health (bicep tendonitis in 2013).

Jeremy Horst – LHP – Age: 27
Pitches: Fastball, Slider, Changeup
Injury: Elbow Soreness
Background:  In the middle of the 2013 season Horst began to experience decreased fastball velocity and elbow soreness.  A series of setbacks kept Horst off the field for the rest of 2013.

Mike Adams – RHP – Age: 34
Pitches: Fastball, Cutter, Slider, Changeup
Injury: Shoulder
Background:  Adams was damaged good when the Phillies signed him before the 2013 season as he was coming off Thoracic Outlet Surgery.  He then had shoulder surgery in July.

Roy Halladay – RHP – Age: 36
Pitches: Sinker, Curveball, Changeup
Injury: Strained Lat, Back Injuries, frayed labrum, injured rotator cuff
Background: Towards the end of his career Halladay racked up an impressive list of arm and back injuries.  This is sad so lets end it there.

Ken Giles – RHP – Age: 22
Pitches: Fastball, Slider, Splitter
Injury: Strained Oblique (both)
Background:  Giles hurt both obliques in 2013 one after each other, the injuries cost him most of the 2013 season.  The Phillies used the time to rebuild his delivery and slider.

A.J. Burnett – RHP – Age: 37
Pitches: Fastball, Curveball, Changeup
Injury: Hernia
Background: On April 14, Burnett was diagnosed with a hernia.  He is going to pitch through the injury rather than have surgery.

*Ages are when injury occurred, pitches are in approximate order of use

In summary there is no pattern other than they are pitchers in the Phillies organization.  The ages vary, the roles vary, and the arsenals are all unique.  In this mix are guys who started as damaged goods, were young in high workload roles, or are starting to succumb to old age.  It would take a full blown investigation behind the scenes to see if the Phillies are slow to diagnose issues when they happen, or if there is something in their offseason workout schedule.  More than anything, the takeaway is that pitchers get hurt, the Phillies have been a bit unlucky, and shoulder injuries are terrifying.