Rangers avoid major blow to bullpen after Luis Curvelo's scary injury

The Rangers got some great news on Wednesday concerning the scary injury to right-handed reliever Luis Curvelo.

Curvelo was pulled from the 2-1 loss to the Athletics on Tuesday following two very wild pitches. After the second fastball was 10 feet outside and short of home plate, Curvelo immediately dropped his glove and grabbed for his right arm towards his upper bicep.

Curvelo avoided a major injury and will go on the 15 day IL

The official injury designation for Curvelo is a right shoulder impingement and will join a growing list of Ranger relievers on the 15-day IL that now includes Chris Martin and the rookie Carter Baumler, who is close to returning from a right intercostal strain.

Gavin Collyer and Cal Quantrill were called up from Triple-A Round Rock prior to Wednesday's game to fill the openings in Texas' pitching staff. Collyer then made an appearance the same day, facing one batter and striking him out in his MLB debut.

It appeared in real time that Curvelo's injury was something much more serious as he tossed his glove and was in a lot of pain after throwing halfway between home plate and the Rangers' dugout. Skip Schumaker and the trainers rushed out of the dugout to tend to the Venezuelan flamethrower.

Fortunately, after an MRI and a battery of other tests, it was revealed to be just a muscular injury, and he should be able to return in about two weeks, barring any serious setbacks.

Curvelo was becoming a stalwart for the Rangers out of the bullpen

Curvelo, who was called up after Baumler's injury, has made four appearances totaling five innings and allowed three earned runs on six hits, good for a 5.40 ERA. Schumaker was calling Curvelo's number more recently, as he had made relief outings in four of his last five games.

Hopefully, Curvelo will bounce back quickly so he can rehab and get back to a Rangers' bullpen that has already started to see it's ranks thinned out three weeks into the season.

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