Zumaya Tears Shoulder in Freak Accident

Detroit fireballer was packing up Chula Vista home as wildfires threatened

By Jesse Andrews

Posted Nov 1, 2007 9:52 PM CDT

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Zumaya Tears Shoulder in Freak Accident — Detroit Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya reacts after striking out New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez in the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 26, 2007, in Detroit. The Tigers beat the Yankees, 5-4. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson) (Associated Press)

After a heavy box fell on Joel Zumaya's pitching shoulder, causing a tear in the AC joint, Detroit's flamethrowing reliever will be rehabbing from surgery until at least the middle of the 2008 season, reports the Detroit Free Press. Zumaya was helping his family prepare for evacuation from their Chula Vista home in the face of southern California's recent devastating wildfires.

The tear in his shoulder was categorized as severe, but doctors believe Zumaya has a 90-95% chance of pitching again. The pitcher described himself as forlorn: “The last couple days, I haven’t slept at all. My career could be done. It’s real sickening. I can’t believe this happened." The Tigers had hoped to move Zumaya into the closer role next season; now they'll be looking at other options.

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