LHP Hill placed on disabled list by Orioles, who are unsure of severity of shoulder injury

Orioles place sore-armed Hill on disabled list

BALTIMORE — Left-hander Rich Hill was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday by the Baltimore Orioles, who labeled his injury as “shoulder inflammation” even though the pitcher contends he’s had a torn labrum since the beginning of the season.

Hill is 3-3 with a 7.80 ERA in 14 games (including 13 starts) this season. He didn’t blame his poor ERA entirely on the shoulder injury, but acknowledged he was throwing in pain.

“I’ve been pitching with a torn labrum pretty much all season, so it’s kind of something that I think it’s either gotten worse or it’s still the same,” Hill said. “I’m not looking for an out or an excuse, but … pitching with a torn labrum is something that isn’t very easy to do, I guess you could say.”

Orioles manager Dave Trembley acted surprised when told the extent of Hill’s shoulder injury.

“To be honest with you, that’s the first time I ever heard about a torn labrum,” Trembley said. “I was not aware of that. And after he talked to me, I spoke to (trainer) Richie Bancells.”

Hill said he would have an arthrogram later in the week to determine the extent of the damage. At that point, he will determine whether to rehabilitate the injury or have surgery.

Hill came to Baltimore from the Chicago Cubs in February for a player to be named. Before the trade was completed, he said an examination revealed the injury.

“I had the (arthrogram) with Chicago and it did show a partial tear,” Hill said. “It just depends on how you can handle it. At the time, it was something that … I could deal with and go out there and pitch with.”

Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail was aware of the injury when he made the deal.

“Part of what you have to understand is that is not necessarily uncommon. There are people who pitch with different injuries,” MacPhail said. “So I don’t think there’s any issue of damaged goods.”

After starting the season on the disabled list with a strained left elbow, Hill was activated in mid-May and improved to 2-0 after limiting Seattle to two hits over seven shutout innings on June 1. But that would be the last time he would throw as many as seven innings, and his last three starts totaled 5 2-3 innings.

Hill was placed on the DL to make room for right-hander Chris Tillman, who was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to make his major league debut Wednesday night against Kansas City. Tillman joins Brad Bergesen, Jason Berken, David Hernandez and Koji Uehara as starters making their debut for the Orioles this season.

MacPhail initially wanted to give the 21-year-old Tillman more time to develop in the minors, but figured the time was right to bring him up.

“When I think about it, most of his mates at (Double-A) Bowie last year are already here pitching very well,” MacPhail said. “Berken last night, Bergesen and Hernandez have done a very good job for us, and Chris was the All-Star among the group there at Bowie last year. He’s pitched well during his time at Norfolk, and I think he’s earned the opportunity here.”

To put Tillman on the 40-man roster, the Orioles transferred right-hander Alfredo Simon (elbow) to the 60-day disabled list.