Toronto Trainer Says Gruber Had Shoulder Examined in ’92

Tommy Craig, the Toronto Blue Jay trainer, said Wednesday that third baseman Kelly Gruber complained of a sore left shoulder and was examined after the third game of the World Series.

It’s the first time anyone in the Blue Jay organization has verified that Gruber had injured his shoulder, but Craig insisted the club was unaware of the severity.

“I remember after the game, it was sore,” Craig said. “We had the doctors check him out, but they didn’t find anything.

“He played the next three games, and never complained about it again. Then, he left for the off-season, and he never mentioned it.”

Gruber, who was traded to the Angels Dec. 7, underwent arthroscopic rotator-cuff surgery Wednesday on his left shoulder, and is scheduled to be out at least eight weeks. If the Angels prove that Gruber was injured while he was with the Blue Jays, they may request that the trade be rescinded.

“We’re going to gather all the evidence we can and go from there,” said Dan O’Brien, the Angels’ vice president/baseball operations.