Christian Garcia to receive second opinion for forearm strain

Christian Garcia chats with Manager Davey Johnson on Thursday. (Jonathan Newton/TWP)

Nationals right-hander Christian Garcia will miss at least the next few days as he receives a second opinion on what Nationals team doctors have diagnosed as a strain in the area between his right wrist and forearm.

Garcia, whom the Nationals are working to convert from relieving to starting this spring, underwent an MRI on his wrist and forearm yesterday. Garcia can only feel pain in his wrist throwing a fastball or “opening the car door,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “It’s kind of a strange injury.”

Johnson said the Nationals believe something is amiss with a tendon or ligament in Garcia’s wrist. The Nationals consider Garcia day-to-day. But even missing a few throwing sessions will hinder the Nationals’ goal of stretching him out to a starter’s workload in spring.

Garcia, 26, has undergone three elbow surgeries in his career, including two Tommy John procedures. He said he is confident the injury is not related to his elbow or shoulder in any way.