How bad is the Twins' injury luck? They can't get through TwinsFest healthy.
Anthony Swarzak broke two ribs last month, an injury that will keep him sidelined until March, while getting rowdy with teammates at a post-Fest party.
"Some of the fellas got together on that Friday night (Jan. 25), and they started wrestling around a little bit. It was just horseplay," general manager Terry Ryan said, declining to name the teammates involved. "Anthony apparently [took an] impact, and ultimately, he cracked a couple of ribs."
He didn't realize it at first, though. Swarzak had some pain the next few days, Ryan said, but believed it was just minor soreness, the result of twisting while wrestling, that would disappear in a matter of days.
When it didn't, he was examined by doctors this week, and fractures in two ribs on his left side were discovered.
"It's disappointing," Ryan said. "This is not something that should happen."
The 27-year-old right-hander will be out a month, Ryan estimated, a mild setback for the Twins as they try to sort out the 34 pitchers invited to training camp.
"He'll still have an opportunity" to keep his spot in the bullpen, Ryan said. "After a month, we'll ramp him up, and he'll have a reasonable shot."
Swarzak joins Nick Blackburn, who had wrist surgery last month, on the sidelines as the Twins prepare for the 2013 season.
Pitchers and catchers hold their first full workout in Fort Myers, Fla., one week from today, with the full squad taking part on Feb. 16. Swarzak appeared in 44 games last year, including five fill-in starts, and posted a 5.03 ERA in 96.2 innings.
