Tigers duo to begin rehab Tuesday

Tigers duo to begin rehab Tuesday
Bonderman, Robertson to prepare for late-season callup

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

08/02/09 12:52 PM ET

CLEVELAND -- Tigers pitchers Jeremy Bonderman and Nate Robertson will begin their Minor League rehab assignments at Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday night.

Robertson is scheduled to throw two or three innings, or about 40 pitches. Bonderman will follow with one inning, or about 25 pitches. With that, they'll begin what is expected to be a lengthy rehab process to build up their arms before they rejoin the Tigers for late-season callups in the bullpen.

Robertson said Friday, after both pitchers threw in a simulated game, that the goal was to be ready at the end of August, right around the time active rosters expand from 25 players to up to 40. But given manager Jim Leyland's reaction, that shouldn't be taken to mean that they'll be shuffled off to the back of the bullpen for token work.

"I think there's a strong possibility," Leyland said, "that both of them, in some way shape or form, at some point, for the rest of the season could be very important for us. But they have to get back to pitching shape. I want them to be pumped up. I think they're both pumped up right now. I think that's a wonderful thing. But you still have to go out and do it and get back into a routine."

That will be the focus for the pitchers. While they'll be groomed for relief roles when they get to Detroit, the Tigers still want to stretch them out and make sure their arms are strong enough to handle the workload. That proved to be a problem with Bonderman when he tried to come back earlier this season, culminating in a rough outing against the White Sox in early June.

So far, that has been Bonderman's lone outing with the Tigers this season. He missed the start of the season with lingering shoulder problems after last summer's surgery to correct a circulatory problem.

Robertson opened the season in the bullpen, but eventually complained of elbow trouble in June. He had surgery about five weeks ago to remove four tissue masses from the elbow area, where they were believed to be interfering with a nerve and restricting his throwing motion.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

BUENO!

Pitchers encouraged by rehab outings
Robertson, Bonderman take mound for Triple-A Toledo

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

08/05/09 8:25 PM ET

DETROIT -- Both Nate Robertson and Jeremy Bonderman were back at Comerica Park on Wednesday, encouraged by their outings the previous night at Triple-A Toledo to start their Minor League rehab assignments. But both see a lengthy stint ahead before they're ready for a return to the big leagues.

Robertson started Tuesday's game for the Mud Hens and gave up a run on four hits over his 2 2/3 innings, throwing 39 pitches. Three of those four hits, including an Andy Green home run he allowed for his lone run, came in his third and final inning of work as his arm started tiring.

He wasn't throwing completely free and easy, but he believes the tightness came more out of lack of work than from any effects of the surgery he had at the end of June to remove tissue masses from around his elbow.

"Just that breakdown before I build things up, that's the process, that's the stage I'm in right now," Robertson said. "I think that once I get over this hump, there should be a difference that I feel. I think I'll start feeling that difference once that fluid and that swelling goes away."

The bright side, Robertson said, was that his command of his pitches was solid. Usually that's one of the last aspects to return after surgery.

Bonderman's perfect inning not only included good arm strength, but it also had a pitch or two he had never thrown in a game. He threw a splitter, he said, as an offspeed pitch, throwing it once for a called strike and again for a swing and miss.

"It felt good just to play," Bonderman said. "It's been a long time."

Robertson will start again for the Hens on Saturday, when he's expected to throw about 50 pitches. He'll be on a regular schedule to pitch every five days after that, extending about 10 pitches per outing until he stretches his arm to about 100 pitches.

Bonderman will continue to work out of the bullpen, with his next appearance on schedule later this week, then on an as-needed basis soon after.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Not sure how much help they'll be for us. I'd rather get bats.

catbox_9 wrote:

Not sure how much help they'll be for us. I'd rather get bats.

I agree

I say turn Bondo into a closer and deal Nando for a bat!

gdennis59 wrote:

I say turn Bondo into a closer and deal Nando for a bat!

I could see Bondo being a closer and yea Nando can get dealt for a minor league bat who can be developed into a good major leaguer

Psssht.

Or we could package Nando with some minor leaguers and get a really good bat.

Yeah, that could work too..........would they take Pronk from Cleveland for Nando and some minor leaguers

NO!

Pronk is waaaay too injury prone.