Latest shoulder setback ‘very frustrating’
CHICAGO — Astros outfielder Michael Brantley said he was disappointed to be shut down this week after developing inflammation in his surgically repaired right shoulder, calling the setback “very frustrating.”
Brantley has not played for the Astros this season as he underwent a lengthy rehab process following his surgery last summer. He appeared close to his return earlier in the month, but the Astros announced on Saturday they were suspending him until further notice.
“As a competitor, you want to be out there with your team,” Brantley said Sunday before the Astros played the White Sox. “I love these guys. I love this organization. Nobody is more disappointed than me. But at the same time I will keep working hard, hanging my head and being the best teammate I can.”
Brantley played his ninth and final rehab game for Class AAA Sugar Land on May 6 and rejoined the Astros two days later while away in Anaheim, where he would likely be activated during the series against the Angels and play his first major game . League game since June 26.
Instead, Brantley said his shoulder isn’t recovering as hoped, and the Astros sent him to Dallas to consult with the doctors who performed his surgery. There he received an MRI, which revealed the inflammation.
The veteran outfielder said he struggled with some ailments during his minor league rehab stint and wasn’t at 100 percent.
“I was trying to push through a few things,” Bratnley said. “I mean, that’s what we do, right. But at the same time I got to the point where I just couldn’t do it anymore. I understand that there will be good and bad and probably everyone is working on something. This is baseball. I understand that too. But I had to be healthier than me to compete at this level. They are the best players in the world and I will not go out there if I harm my team in any way.”
Brantley described his condition as “day by day” and said he had no indication of how long he would be suspended.
“I just need to get rid of the inflammation so I can start rebuilding and get myself back to where I was,” he said.
Brantley underwent an arthroscopic labrum repair on his right shoulder in August. He had the same surgery while playing for Cleveland in 2016, one of two surgeries he underwent on his right shoulder that year. He said he experienced similar frustrations during his rehab in 2016.
“Shoulder surgeries are difficult. I understand that,” Brantley said. “At the same time, I try to stay positive when I can. The whole goal is just to be out there with the team, but I have to be healthy. It’s very important to recover every day, to be out there with the guys, but also to be healthy.”
Brantley said he hopes to continue traveling with the Astros while his rehab continues.
“In the off-season you put in a lot of work every day, you do everything right and sometimes things just don’t go in your favor,” Brantley said. “But at the same time, like I said, I’m not going to stop. I’ll keep my head down and keep working. I always will and I will be out there with these guys as soon as possible.”