Phillies Starter Eickhoff Suffers Setback

Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff had a very promising 2016 and followed it up with a somewhat disappointing 2017.  In 2018, Eickhoff has yet to throw a pitch, thanks to a strained lat suffered during Spring Training.  He will not anytime immediately soon, either, despite beginning a rehab assignment at Double-A Reading.

According to Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic, Eickhoff departed Sunday's rehab start early with "a twinge in the fingertips" of two fingers on his throwing arm.  Accordingly, Eickhoff's rehab has been shutdown and his rehab clock stopped.  There has been no diagnosis at this time.

Theo DeRosa of Sports Talk Philly noticed that the reported symptoms compare to those shown by someone with Thoractic Outlet Syndrome.  That is simple speculation; there is nothing to formally connect Eickhoff to that at this time.  Phillies starter Vince Velasquez was treated for Thoractic Outlet Syndrome this past offseason.

The move means that Zach Eflin will likely stay in the Phillies starting rotation for the foreseeable future.