Dodgers’ Ted Lilly not expected to need shoulder surgery

DENVER — A day after placing Matt Kemp on the 15-day disabled list, the Dodgers received positive news on the injury front.

An arthrogram Ted Lilly underwent on Friday didn’t reveal any previously unknown damage to his left shoulder, according to trainer Sue Falsone. Contrast material was injected into Lilly’s shoulder to inspect the joint and possible damage to the labrum.

Joint or labrum damage may have required surgery. Lilly had arthroscopic surgery in late 2009 to clean up his labrum.

“At this time, we’re not looking at surgery,” Falsone said. “We’re looking at conservative treatment.”

The exam showed Lilly has inflammation in the back part of his shoulder. Lilly will rest for a couple of days, then start a rehabilitation program.

Falsone did not give a timetable for Lilly’s return. Lilly was placed on the disabled list on Monday and replaced by Nathan Eovaldi in the rotation.

“Any time you have a starting pitcher who doesn’t throw for 10 days to two weeks, you have to build them back up,” Falsone said. “The whole throwing progression takes some time too. It’s really going to depend on when he starts throwing.”

A dream fulfilled

Alex Castellanos had a large welt above his left elbow, a souvenir from his major league debut the previous night when he was struck by a pitch in his first career at-bat.

“It was awesome,” Castellanos said.

The journey to the major leagues was a long one for Castellanos, a 25-year-old outfielder and second baseman who was called up from triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday to replace Kemp on the active roster.

Castellanos was once cut from a community college team in his hometown of Miami. But he continued to play and eventually landed at Belmont Abbey College, a Division II school outside of Charlotte, N.C.

He was selected by theSt. Louis Cardinalsin the 10th round of the 2008 draft.

Last year, the Dodgers acquired him in a deal for veteran shortstop Rafael Furcal.

Castellanos was hitting .379 with five home runs and 14 runs batted in in 22 games with the Albuquerque Isotopes at the time of his call-up. Castellanos was in New Orleans with the Isotopes when he received word of his promotion. His parents were visiting him from Miami.

“They were picking me up to go eat breakfast,” Castellanos said. “When I got in the car, I just told them and they freaked out.”

Castellanos started for the first time on Friday, batting sixth and playing left field. He collected his first career hit in the fourth inning, a run-scoring triple.

Short hops

Kemp remained in Los Angeles to receive an injection of platelet-rich plasma. Kemp is expected to rejoin the Dodgers during their series in Philadelphia, which starts on Monday. … Juan Rivera traveled with the team to Colorado but isn’t expected to be activated until the Philadelphia series. … Juan Uribe took batting practice for the third consecutive day and could head out for a minor league rehabilitation assignment next week.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com