PHOENIX -- Pitcher Clay Hensley, who opened the 2007 season in the Padres' rotation, will begin a Minor League rehabilitation assignment Tuesday for Lake Elsinore. Hensley, who had surgery on his right shoulder to repair a labrum tear seven months ago Monday, will likely throw on inning for the Storm, the Padres' Class A Advanced team in the California League. San Diego manager Bud Black said Hensley "will come back in the fold as a reliever." Hensley went 2-3 with a 6.84 ERA in 13 games in 2007 with the Padres. He was never really healthy, as he was troubled by everything from blister issues to biceps tendinitis, which actually masked the labrum tear in his shoulder. Another pitcher working his way back from surgery, right-hander Mark Prior, will play catch Monday in Peoria, his first throwing session since suffering stiffness in his shoulder on April 12. "I wouldn't call it a setback ... I would call it taking a step back," said Black, who noted that Prior's next session on a mound will depend on how he comes out of Monday's side session on flat ground. Black said Prior -- who had arthroscopic shoulder surgery a year ago -- probably will throw two more batting practice sessions and a side session before he's allowed to throw in a simulated game. The next step after that would be a Minor League rehabilitation assignment, though that won't happen until sometime mid-May at the earliest. "Along the rehab trail, he had pretty much made every session without any interruption," Black said. "I think it's bound to happen on the long rehab trail." Prior, like Hensley, is currently on the 60-day disabled list. Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs. |
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