Orioles pitcher Brad Bergesen confirmed tonight that he injured his right shoulder in December and will be "a little behind" the other pitchers in spring training, though he fully expects to be ready for Opening Day.
The injury occurred during a commercial shoot inside a batting cage at Camden Yards. Bergesen said he tweaked the shoulder as he was finishing up, and he contacted the team's trainers when the discomfort wouldn't subside.
Bergesen said he strained the capsule in his shoulder and is experiencing some inflammation in the front area. He underwent an MRI in early January and recently began a throwing program in Sarasota.
Bergesen, who hadn't thrown off a mound in four months because of his leg injury, said he warmed up properly before the cameras rolled.
"It's just as much my fault as anybody else's. I got caught up in the moment," he said.
"I think it was a combination of not building up my arm enough and being tight, and I just tweaked something. But if everything goes as planned, I'm not going to miss any time in the season.
Bergesen has been told that he should be on the same schedule as the other pitchers in camp by the middle of March.
"The stuff (athletic trainers) Richie Bancells and Brian Ebel have me doing is unbelievable, the progress I've made," he said. "I've thrown six times now and it's gone better and better every time."
I'll follow up this story tomorrow. I spoke to Bergesen twice tonight and he doesn't sound concerned, but he might be the only one.