Miguel

Asencio

Asencio said he doesn’t know when he will test his arm again.

Asencio will be trying something new to combat his first-inning woes - he will work a simulated inning in the bullpen before taking the mound.

“The doctor said it’s OK to let him start playing toss,” trainer Nick Swartz said. “His symptoms are improving, but he’s got a ligament in there that is a cause for concern.” Not good. Asencio probably won’t resume throwing off a mound for another two weeks, so he’s going to start the season on the disabled list. He’s not going to be worth stashing away in AL-only leagues.

Asencio was considered a leading candidate to win a spot in the rotation before the injury. He’s beginning to look like a longshot, and is a poor fantasy bet regardless.

“We’ll stop this right now,” trainer Nick Swartz said. “We’ll get him out to LA on Monday and let them do an MRI to look further into this thing and give us a more-detailed report.” Kyle Snyder might not be the only Royals pitcher to miss the 2004 season.

''If we broke camp right now,’' manager Tony Pena said, ''Asencio would be my third starter. The fourth and fifth, we’re still talking about: [Darrell] May, [Chris] George and [Kyle] Snyder.’' May is likely to be the fourth starter, and George is the favorite to fill out the rotation.

''It’s an arthrosocopic clean out of the joint on the outside of his right elbow,’' Royals trainer Nick Swartz said. The Royals could get Asencio back in August or September, but unless his rehab goes perfectly, they might just shut him down for the season.

Asencio isn’t expected to test his elbow until playing catch in another day or so. Surgery is possible if cortisone doesn’t alleviate the problem.

Due to off days, the team should only need a fifth starter a couple of times during April. If they go with a four-man rotation initially, it’s likely that either Jimmy Gobble or Miguel Asencio will open the season in the minors. Also, it could be that Kevin Appier will be ready to return once a regular fifth starter is needed.

Asencio could be back in late August or early September.