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Nats confirm partial tear in Arroyo's rotator cuff

The Washington Post / Getty

Washington Nationals right-hander Bronson Arroyo will be sidelined for at least four-to-six weeks after tests revealed a partial tear of the rotator cuff tendon, general manager Mike Rizzo said Saturday.

Arroyo's health has been a topic of debate over the past several days, with conflicting reports emerging about the source, severity, and even interpretation of the pitcher's injury. On Friday, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported that a doctor initially misread the MRI results, and that Arroyo's rotator cuff had no tear at all.

Rizzo, however, confirmed the tear Saturday after meeting with Arroyo, describing the injury to reporters as "extreme inflammation." He said Arroyo will be shut down 10-to-14 days.

Arroyo, who hasn't pitched in the bigs since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2014, inked a minors deal with the Nationals in January, and was supposed to give the organization added starting-pitching depth. Following the initial diagnosis, Arroyo indicated his career was in jeopardy, but manager Dusty Baker insisted Saturday such talk is premature.

"I think Bronson's going to have an effect on this team before this season's over," he said, according to MASN's Mark Zuckerman.

Arroyo, who turned 39 this spring, owns a 145-131 record with a 4.19 ERA over 15 major-league seasons.

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