Kansas City Royals reliever Louis Coleman probably will start the season on the disabled list because of a bone bruise on his right middle finger.
Coleman, a longtime resident of Schlater and a former Pillow Academy standout, gave up six runs on three hits and three walks in one-third of an inning Monday against San Francisco. He has had the injury since early in spring training.
"Louie is a big, big part of our bullpen when healthy," manager Ned Yost said Wednesday.
On the first day of spring workouts in Surprise, Ariz., a ground ball struck Coleman on the middle finger of his right hand. At the time, the Royals called it a mild injury.
But on Wednesday morning, the Kansas City Star reported that Yost revealed the actual extent of the damage. Coleman sprained the digit and suffered a bone bruise near the top knuckle. Yost said the sprain healed, but the bone bruise has not.
“They’re doing bone stimulation, and they’re doing all kinds of different stuff for it,” Yost told the Kansas City newspaper. “And my question is: ‘OK, it’s been six weeks already. Why do we think that another two weeks is going to remedy the problem?’ And they said: ‘It’s just time. A bone bruise takes six to eight weeks to heal.’ And we’re six weeks into it.”
After yielding just two earned runs in 292/3 innings in 2013, Coleman has struggled this spring as evidenced by his 13.50 ERA. He struck out the side against the Rangers on March 17. But his inability to throw strikes has been consistent.
“We tried to get him ready for Opening Day,” pitching coach Dave Eiland said. But it just didn’t heal. I mean, he’s going to be OK. But he’s probably anywhere from a week to two weeks behind. We could legitimately have him at the end of that first home stand.”
If the team backdates Coleman’s stint on the disabled list, according to the Star, he would first be available on April 8.
