Right-hander Joakim Soria might be out longer than 15 days after being placed on the disabled list with rotator cuff inflammation Sunday, retroactive to May 8.
Soria is eligible to come off the DL May 23 when the Royals are at St. Louis, but it appears questionable the Royals closer would be activated that day. "He hasn't started throwing yet. Is he close? No," manager Trey Hillman said.
That is throwing off a flat surface, not off the mound. General manager Dayton Moore said he wants Soria to go on a minor league rehab assignment before pitching in a big-league game.
"We're not going to be able to evaluate exactly where he is until he picks up the ball and starts playing catch," Hillman said. "The biggest thing is to get the inflammation calmed down to a degree where he can start some extracurricular exercises beyond what he's normally done. Then we'll go from there to when and how much he can play catch.
"Soon as Joakim can do his normal arm exercise program with no discomfort and no soreness, then they'll get a date scheduled to start throwing a baseball again. As of right now, he's doing his exercise program with no weight. I would still think it would be a few days away from even thinking about picking up a ball until he can do those arm exercises without that soreness creeping back."
Soria saw Dr. Lewis Yocum last week when the Royals were in Anaheim for a second opinion. Soria said no structural damage was detected, just inflammation.
ROYALS 8, ORIOLES 1: Zack Greinke picked up his seventh victory, limiting the Orioles to one run and six hits in seven innings as the Royals snapped a six-game losing skid. Greinke walked two and struck out six. Mike Jacobs led off a four-run fourth with his eighth home run. Miguel Olivo's three-run homer the same inning put this one out of reach for the Orioles. Mark Teahen stroked three singles, his eighth multi-hit game.
