Mark Prior Is Hurt Again

I know I've made my share of Mark Prior jokes this spring, but this is just getting sad.

Mark Prior's first extended spring outing ended badly on Thursday when the injury-plagued right-hander was forced to leave his start with shoulder problems.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry confirmed Prior was removed from the game against minor league hitters, but declined to comment on the injury without having all of the details.

The Cubs announced Thursday afternoon that Prior would be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum, an orthopedic specialist, within the next few days.

Prior experienced discomfort in his right shoulder in the second inning. He left after completing the inning.

David Pinto at Baseball Musings (where this link came from, by the way) wonders if Prior will ever pitch again. You hate to even let a thought like that enter your head, but man, this is getting bad. I'm not even a Cubs fan and this sucks to watch, just because as few as three years ago, Prior really seemed like one of those once in a generation talents and now it seems like if he ends up with a career like Paul Wilson, he's going to be lucky. Nothing is certain until the results come back, but it seems pretty clear that the Cubs' plan to have him make three AAA starts and bring him back up is probably scrapped now. I guess we'll all have to wait and see.

Previously at the Fanhouse
Cubs Send Mark Prior Down to AAA
Mark Prior's Career Has Come "Unhinged"