Zumaya Tears Shoulder in Freak Accident

After a heavy box fell on Joel Zumaya's pitching shoulder, causing a tear in the AC joint, Detroit's flamethrowing reliever will be rehabbing from surgery until at least the middle of the 2008 season, reports the Detroit Free Press. Zumaya was helping his family prepare for evacuation from their Chula Vista home in the face of southern California's recent devastating wildfires.

The tear in his shoulder was categorized as severe, but doctors believe Zumaya has a 90-95% chance of pitching again. The pitcher described himself as forlorn: “The last couple days, I haven’t slept at all. My career could be done. It’s real sickening. I can’t believe this happened." The Tigers had hoped to move Zumaya into the closer role next season; now they'll be looking at other options.