Rookie to replace injured Nolasco in Marlins rotation

 

MIAMI (AP) -Marlins right-hander Ricky Nolasco was placed on the disabled list Monday with elbow inflammation, and will be replaced in Florida’s rotation by Rick Vanden Hurk, a Holland native who has yet to pitch above Class-A.
The 21-year-old Vanden Hurk was called up from the minors to make his major league debut Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez said Nolasco is expected to miss only a couple of starts. Nolasco was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to Saturday.
Nolasco made his only appearance of the season Friday, when he pitched 1 1-3 innings in relief and gave up a three-run homer to Philadelphia’s Pat Burrell. He may be going through a dead-arm phase, Gonzalez said.
“We were a little suspicious with miles-per-hour the last couple of times he came out in spring training,” Gonzalez said. “We want to be cautious. He may be able to throw in a couple of days.”
Nolasco went 11-11 with a 4.82 ERA as a rookie for Florida last year. He said his fastball was in the mid-80s Friday, instead of his normal low 90s, and “red flags” went up.
“Stuff wasn’t the same,” he said. “It didn’t feel good. I could definitely tell there was some discomfort there.”
An MRI exam Monday came back negative.
“Just got to do what’s safe,” Nolasco said. “Just get some rest, let it heal completely and go from there.”
The Marlins were already without right-hander Josh Johnson, who is expected to be sidelined until at least June 1 with an irritated ulnar nerve.
Vanden Hurk was at Double-A Carolina, where he had yet to pitch this year. The right-hander is 5-12 with a 3.47 ERA in four minor league seasons, and spent last year with the Gulf Coast League Marlins and Class-A Jupiter.
“Our people think real highly of him,” Gonzalez said.
Vanden Hurk said his family plans to fly in from Holland to watch his big league debut, including his father, who taught him the game.
The 6-foot-5 Vanden Hurk signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2002.
“I’m going pretty crazy right now,” the right-hander said. “Getting the call up, it means a lot. Getting the first big start, that’s pretty exciting.”