Rangers pitcher Kirkman has soreness in his left shoulder

It didn’t take long for the Rangers to announce their first injury of the 2015 spring training.

A day after the first workout for pitchers and catchers, left-hander Michael Kirkman has soreness in his left shoulder.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said it’s not serious. Rangers doctor Keith Meister expects Kirkman to miss a few days. Daniels speculated that Kirkman could be out for close to a week.

The news leaves the Rangers with two lefties in the bullpen. It’s a spot the club was already interested in improving with a possible trade.

Daniels said Kirkman’s injury doesn’t alter the club’s view on making a move.

“It’s something we’ve talked about from a scouting perspective,” Daniels said. “As other clubs get started some have depth in that area. We have some depth in other areas. It’s something we’ll be on the lookout for.”

For Kirkman, who said he struggled to get loose during Saturday’s first day of spring camp, it’s better to miss time early rather than later.

“It would be best for him to be out there and performing,” Daniels said. “But we’re early enough if that’s all it is, better to nip it in the bud now and still get [him] a chance to get out there and compete.”

The injury bug started to strike the Rangers early in 2014. Several players were injured during the off-season or spring training, including Derek Holland, Jurickson Profar, Elvis Andrus and Yu Darvish.

Kirkman emphasized the move is just precautionary. He had similar soreness when he dropped his arm angle last season.

“I just don’t want to have it turn into something long term,” he said. “I might try to throw Tuesday and see how it feels. If I can throw, I’ll throw.”

He’ll be re-evaluated by Meister on Thursday or Friday.

Gallo’s spring charge

It is unlikely that Rangers top minor league prospect Joey Gallo, who is enjoying his first major league spring training camp, will get to taste the big leagues this season.

Even if he sets the spring training world on fire, he’s probably a year or two away.

In the meantime, getting to shadow All-Star veteran third baseman Adrian Beltre is one of the main reasons Gallo was invited this spring. Gallo will play exclusively at third base this spring, manager Jeff Banister said, and is unlikely to play the outfield.

“I’d like for Joey Gallo to come in and find some way to be comfortable in the environment, continue to work, focus on who he is as a player, but [also see] what a big leaguer looks like,” Banister said. “How does he prepare himself? What does he do every day to be a better player today so he can show up tomorrow and continue that process?”

Banister expects Beltre, along with all of his veterans, to help guide the younger players.

“If we’re not adding value to the people around us we’re not adding value to ourselves,” he said. “When you can truly reach out and help somebody else that you know can’t repay you then you’re doing something good. As a team leader and as a teammate I think that’s part of the process for each one of these guys. You’re always grooming somebody else, if you’re an every day player that’s part of the process.

Fujikawa feels good

Reliever Kyuji Fujikawa threw 26 pitches Sunday morning, the first in a Rangers uniform.

The former Cubs reliever who had Tommy John surgery two years ago impressed pitching coach Mike Maddux, who was seeing him throw for the first time.

“I was very happy to see him today,” Maddux said. “Showed no signs of holding back at all. He let it go. Showed a nice little split-fingered fastball, his fastball had angle, had hop when it was up. That Asian repertoire we’ve seen with a few guys, he had it and he was executing his pitches really well.”

Fujikawa felt good after throwing, too, which is his biggest concern.

“It’s not perfect, but it’s getting better,” Fujikawa said. “I checked on my mechanics and went easy and slow.”

Maddux liked that Fujikawa had no issues extending over his front side on his follow-through, a sign he’s not holding back.

“There’s no reservation in letting it go,” Maddux said.

This story was originally published February 22, 2015 at 6:49 PM with the headline "Rangers pitcher Kirkman has soreness in his left shoulder."