Junior pitcher Karsten Whitson is out indefinitely due to shoulder fatigue, Florida announced on Wednesday.
Whitson, who was slated to be the team’s No. 2 starter behind Jonathon Crawford, missed a month of the 2012 season because of fatigue in his right forearm.
“Karsten has been battling continued shoulder fatigue,” head athletic trainer Pat Hassell said in a release. “We have pursued a conservative management plan to treat this issue. Karsten is evaluating further options at this time that will allow for a healthy and productive return to baseball.”
Coach Kevin O’Sullivan said Wednesday that there is no timetable for Whitson to return. Prior to being sidelined last season, Whitson’s velocity topped out in the low-90s. During fall practice he was throwing in the mid-90s again, so arm trouble appeared to be behind him.
“He’s disappointed,” O’Sullivan said. “Anybody in his shoes would be a little disappointed. But we’re still staying optimistic.”
O’Sullivan said he was not caught off-guard by Whitson’s dismaying news. By the end of January, O’Sullivan knew Whitson might not be ready for this weekend’s opening series against Duke.
“There’s a lot of prep that goes into [getting ready for the season],” O’Sullivan said. “You got to do the throwing program — bullpens, throw to live hitters — and we haven’t been able to get through the full cycle.”
After being drafted ninth overall by the San Diego Padres in the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft, Whitson turned down a $2.1 million contract to come to UF. He struck out 92 batters in 97.1 innings during a strong freshman season.
Doctors did not find any structural damage when Whitson experienced shoulder fatigue last season. However, Baseball America reported on Wednesday afternoon that Whitson was meeting with orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews.
A world-renowned surgeon, Andrews has performed Tommy John surgery on major league pitchers such as John Smoltz and Brian Wilson, and shoulder surgery on NFL quarterbacks Brett Favre and Drew Brees. Andrews primarily works out of Birmingham, Ala., but also has a facility in Gulf Breeze, which is less than 2 hours from Whitson’s hometown of Chipley.
O’Sullivan said freshman right-hander Tucker Simpson will start in Whitson’s place on Saturday. Sophomore Justin Shafer will start on Sunday.
“Karsten Whitson is an awesome pitcher,” sophomore catcher Taylor Gushue said. “But our younger guys are definitely going to have to step up this year. That’s how it’s going to affect us. … I’m not worried about it. Karsten has a lot of talent, but our team is good enough to take it in stride, and we’ll just go from there.”
Contact Josh Jurnovoy at jjurnovoy@alligator.org.
Junior Karsten Whitson reacts after recording a strikeout during Florida’s 9-8 win against NC State on June 10, 2012, at McKethan Stadium. Whitson was drafted in the 37th round of the 2013 MLB Draft.
