Reds Say Injury Isn’t Serious, but Dibble Sidelined Indefinitely

Cincinnati Red reliever Rob Dibble will miss the rest of spring training with tendinitis in his right shoulder, and it’s uncertain when he’ll be able to pitch again.

A magnetic resonance imaging exam Tuesday found no serious injury to Dibble’s shoulder, according to the Reds. The right-hander will be on a strengthening program for the next 10 days to two weeks, the team announced Tuesday night.

Dibble hopes to avoid opening the season on the disabled list.

“I’m not going to be out the whole year,” Dibble said. “All the doctors agree I don’t need surgery. I will be ready to pitch within a month, I promise you that.”

Reds’ consulting physician Richard Jolson recommended a 10-day program of weightlifting to strengthen the shoulder and arm, followed by a throwing program.

“If I’m ready to pitch one week into the season, I may not have to go on the DL,” Dibble said.

Dibble said Tuesday that he normally has a sore shoulder in spring training, but this year was different. “Everybody can tell you I haven’t been throwing even 80% because of the inflammation in my shoulder,” he said. “I can’t let the ball go.”