SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Left-hander Dan Runzler will leave camp on Sunday for Pensacola, Fla., where he will seek a consultation with Dr. James Andrews regarding his strained lat muscle in the back of his shoulder.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy said the initial recommendation is that Runzler miss three to four weeks before he begins throwing again. The club will wait to see if Dr. Andrews concurs with that opinion before plotting out a schedule for Runzler.
Runzler aggravated the lat injury 20 pitches into a bullpen session a few days ago. He originally strained the lat in the final regular season game last season.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
RELATED: Runzler reportedly goes for tests on shoulder
"I felt a pull on the shoulder where I hurt it before," Runzler said. "We'll get some different opinions."
Initial MRI results showed that Runzler's rotator cuff and labrum are intact. Surgery is very rare for a lat strain but isn't being ruled out completely, Runzler said. His visit with Dr. Andrews is more to establish a timeline to begin throwing again.
"Right now it's hard to make any more comments because we don't know the extent of it," Runzler said.
San Francisco Giants
Runzler needed a strong spring to win the final spot in the bullpen. He's almost certainly out of that competition now. Normally, a lat strain will sideline a pitcher for roughly six weeks.