Jesus Flores will visit Dr. James Andrews, miss at least 10 days

Catcher Jesus Flores's depressing spring continues. Struggling to recover from shoulder surgery, Flores left the Nationals to visit specialist Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., and will miss at least 10 days, Manager Jim Riggleman said. Flores already had said he would not be ready for Opening Day, and Riggleman reasserted Flores will begin the season on the disabled list. The question may be whether Flores will play this season at all, but general manager Mike Rizzo is confident he will. "There's no further issues with the surgery or with the tears or anything like that," Rizzo said. "It's simply precautionary. He felt discomfort. Because of who he is in our organization, the type of player he is, we're being very cautious with him. We're pulling out all our resources to make sure this guy has the individual attention that he needs. ... Flo is going to be back with us sometime in the near future." Rizzo decided to send Flores, who flew out today, to Andrews because "the massive amounts of people that we have rehabbing with our three trainers" disallow Flores from receiving individual physical therpay, which he will receive in Birmingham. The Nationals do not believe Flores re-injured his shoulder, which Andrews repaired with a SLAP (superior labrum from anterior to posterior) procedure Sept. 16. The plan is for Andrews to "treat" and "evaluate" Flores, Riggleman said. "Dr. Andrews knows where he should be at this point," Riggleman said. "I don't think it's re-injured. I don't it's coming along as fast as he would like or as fast as the trainers would like." "I'm not a lucky guy right now," Flores said March 2. By that point, he had expected to be swinging a bat, which he still has not done. He was able to play catch at 120 feet this week, but nothing more. The Nationals will restart that throwing program once Flores returns from physical therapy. Flores's extended time away will not affect the playing time of Ivan Rodriguez, signed this offseason. Rizzo planned on having Rodriguez play roughly 100 games, depending on how he feels and how performs, no matter Flores's condition. Flores' problems began last May 9, when he took a foul tip off his shoulder. Flores rehabbed for a stress fracture and eventually played in the major leagues again in September as a pinch hitter. After three at-bats, he was examined again and discovered he had a torn labrum. Flores said earlier this spring he believes the damage to the labrum could have been prevented or blunted had the team's medical staff not allowed him to throw after the injury. General Manager Mike Rizzo said he understands Flores's frustration but that the training staff at no point placed Flores in any undo harm. Catcher Jesus Flores's depressing spring continues. Struggling to recover from shoulder surgery, Flores left the Nationals to visit specialist Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., and will miss at least 10 days, Manager Jim Riggleman said. Flores already had said he would not be ready for Opening Day, and Riggleman reasserted Flores will begin the season on the disabled list. The question may be whether Flores will play this season at all, but general manager Mike Rizzo is confident he will. "There's no further issues with the surgery or with the tears or anything like that," Rizzo said. "It's simply precautionary. He felt discomfort. Because of who he is in our organization, the type of player he is, we're being very cautious with him. We're pulling out all our resources to make sure this guy has the individual attention that he needs. ... Flo is going to be back with us sometime in the near future." Rizzo decided to send Flores, who flew out today, to Andrews because "the massive amounts of people that we have rehabbing with our three trainers" disallow Flores from receiving individual physical therpay, which he will receive in Birmingham. The Nationals do not believe Flores re-injured his shoulder, which Andrews repaired with a SLAP (superior labrum from anterior to posterior) procedure Sept. 16. The plan is for Andrews to "treat" and "evaluate" Flores, Riggleman said. "Dr. Andrews knows where he should be at this point," Riggleman said. "I don't think it's re-injured. I don't it's coming along as fast as he would like or as fast as the trainers would like." "I'm not a lucky guy right now," Flores said March 2. By that point, he had expected to be swinging a bat, which he still has not done. He was able to play catch at 120 feet this week, but nothing more. The Nationals will restart that throwing program once Flores returns from physical therapy. Flores's extended time away will not affect the playing time of Ivan Rodriguez, signed this offseason. Rizzo planned on having Rodriguez play roughly 100 games, depending on how he feels and how performs, no matter Flores's condition. Flores' problems began last May 9, when he took a foul tip off his shoulder. Flores rehabbed for a stress fracture and eventually played in the major leagues again in September as a pinch hitter. After three at-bats, he was examined again and discovered he had a torn labrum. Flores said earlier this spring he believes the damage to the labrum could have been prevented or blunted had the team's medical staff not allowed him to throw after the injury. General Manager Mike Rizzo said he understands Flores's frustration but that the training staff at no point placed Flores in any undo harm. "Our medical staff, we really investigated this thing very closely," Rizzo said. "We followed all the protocols and did everything we were supposed to do. We did our due dilligence on all sides. According to our medical people, who I trust, and Dr. Andrews, who I trust, in their opinions, which is the only thing that matters to me, is that we've done everything we can here. We're still on the right track."