Two of the Tigers top pitching prospects are injured, or at least experiencing enough discomfort to disrupt the starts to their respective seasons. Cody Satterwhite has  landed on the disabled list for the Erie Seawolves and Casey Crosby will miss his first start with the Lakeland Flying Tigers.

Casey Crobsy

Crosby is going to miss his first turn after reporting pain in his pitching elbow. That would be the elbow that was surgically repaired during the 2008 offseason.

Crosby was on a strict work limit last year, his first season post surgery. With outstanding peripherals and stuff for the West Michigan Whitecaps he was rated as one of the top 2-3 prospects in the system.

This is a relatively new ligament for Crosby so it is probably premature to worry at this point. The Tigers are likely being ultra-conservative with the young lefty and hopefully he is back on the  mound shortly.

Cody Satterwhite

The news for Satterwhite certainly seems to be more troublesome. He is starting the year on the disabled list for Erie and there are mixed reports on the severity of the injury to his shoulder. Mark Anderson of Tigstown.com tweeted that Satterwhite had a torn labrum. The team painted a more optimistic picture saying it was a posterior impingement and a rotator cuff injury that they would try and rehab.

Seawolves beat writer Nick Underhill learned today though the situation is likely more dire. According to Phil Nevin the original treatment plan was surgery, but a visit to Dr. James Andrews recommended a cortisone shot, rehab, and a two week follow-up.

Satterwhite had a decent shot to pitch out of the Tigers pen at some point this season. But this is certainly a set back. He was to pitch in the Arizona Fall League last October but missed that due to shoulder soreness as well.