Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel is optimistic he'll return to the team to pitch again this season, MLB.com reports. Hammel, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a flexor strain, does not want to push things in the recovery and risk a more serious injury.
"After speaking with the doctors and everything, not necessarily the writing is on the wall but it's right there, the forearm can be a precursor to ligament damage [in the elbow] and things like that," Hammel told MLB.com. "It's not worth the risk, especially if it's something we can look at and handle now. Obviously I don't want to miss time, but it's better than missing a year [for Tommy John surgery]."
Hammel is 7-8 with a 5.20 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 85:46 K:BB ratio in 123 innings.