Left-hander Rich Hill said he has been pitching with a torn labrum in his shoulder all year, but the Orioles said they weren't aware that he was dealing with anything that could hamper his ability to perform.
Hill, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday to make room for newly promoted starter Chris Tillman, said he will have an arthrogram today to determine the severity of the injury and whether surgery will be needed.
"I've been pitching with a torn labrum pretty much all season, so it's kind of something that I think it's either gotten worse or it's still the same," said Hill, who was 3-3 with a 7.80 ERA in 14 games, including 13 starts. "I'm not looking for an out or an excuse, but what it is is going out there and kind of selfishly, on my part, pitching with an injury. And pitching with a torn labrum is something that isn't very easy to do."
Hill said the tear was "discovered as of the first of the year" while he was with the Chicago Cubs, who dealt him to the Orioles on Feb. 2 for cash. He said he had an arthrogram in Chicago over the winter that revealed a partial tear and tendinitis.
After his last start Monday, in which he lasted just 2 1/3 innings and appeared to be heading toward his release, Hill told reporters he had been battling tendinitis. On Wednesday, he said he believed the discomfort might have been because of the tear.
"It's kind of something that has been generating over time," Hill said. "Just because of the amount of innings and the amount of, over time, pitches and everything that's been built up. ... It's just something that happens."
Orioles manager Dave Trembley said he hadn't heard about the labrum tear previously. Club president Andy MacPhail said Hill underwent a thorough physical in spring training and nothing unusual was found. The club was more concerned about a back issue that dogged Hill in 2008 and an elbow injury that limited him this spring.
"Had we thought for a minute there were any physical issues [with the shoulder], he wouldn't have pitched, and he would have told us he shouldn't pitch," MacPhail said. "But our medical staff is pretty careful about not using guys who don't think they can go."
MacPhail said the club would compare the results of the arthrogram with other tests Hill, 29, has had in the past. Shoulder irregularities, including partial labrum tears, are not unusual for pitchers, MacPhail said.
