Tuesday, July 20, 1999
Kawabata sidelined
By Al Chase
by shoulder pain
Star-BulletinKyle Kawabata's solid first half for the Clearwater Phillies earned him a spot on the West team in the Florida State League All-Star Game and a promotion to the Reading (Pa.) Phillies in the Class AA Eastern League.
His first-half statistics for Clearwater were typical. He won three, lost one, had seven saves and a sparkling 1.15 earned-run average. In 47 innings, he struck out 37 and walked 10.
But, the day after his second outing for Reading, he was playing catch and experienced pain in his right shoulder.
"It was sharp, sharp pain, like something grabbing your shoulder," Kawabata said. "I experienced it my first year in Batavia (1995, New York-Penn League), but this is the first time I've not been able to throw through it."
Diagnosed with tendinitis possibly complicated by weak muscles, Kawabata has been on the disabled list for a month. He has spent considerable time in the weight room strengthening the shoulder muscles.
"I threw bullpen two days ago and it felt good. I have another one tomorrow," Kawabata said. "I'm hoping to get activated soon. However, there aren't any roster spots open right now, so I don't know what they are going to do."
The 6-foot, 195-pound Kailua High School graduate, who played college ball for Washington State, has used the slider as his "out" pitch during his four-plus seasons in the Philadelphia organization.
But the slider pulls on the shoulder, so the 25-year-old right-hander has relied more on hitting his spots and throwing a sinker this season.
Kawabata has a career 2.12 ERA. In 180 games, all relief appearances, has has recorded 76 saves and has a 4-to-1, strikeout-to-walk ratio. In 243 innings he has walked 53 and fanned 217.
