Zagurski hopes to contribute in 2009

The Phillies could use an extra left-hander in their bullpen while J.C. Romero serves his 50-game suspension for violating the league’s policy against performance-enhancing drugs.
Romero’s absence leaves Scott Eyre as the bullpen’s only lefty.

Left-hander Mike Zagurski would love to be that second guy, but he isn’t expected to be ready. He hasn’t thrown a pitch in a game since he tore his right hamstring on Aug. 18, 2007, in Pittsburgh. The injury required surgery, and when Zagurski finally returned to the mound last spring, he hurt his left elbow, which required Tommy John ligament replacement surgery.

“He needs time to get back on the mound to pitch on a regular basis,” Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee said Sunday. “Hopefully we can get him on a mound in April pitching somewhere, and maybe somewhere during the course of the season we see him again. But I think it would be an awful lot to ask Mike after not pitching for a year and a half, coming off a leg injury and Tommy John surgery, to think he can make this team coming out of Spring Training.”

Zagurski, who went 1-0 with a 5.91 ERA in 25 appearances for the Phillies in 2007, is pitching off the mound, throwing mostly fastballs.

“Hopefully I’ll start throwing breaking balls by the end of the month,” Zagurski said. “I’ll try to mix in some changeups this week. If I’m not ready Opening Day, hopefully it’ll be shortly thereafter — in Philadelphia or anywhere else. Just pitching and being healthy will be a steady improvement.”

There aren’t many other options for left-handers for the Phillies. J.A. Happ could make the bullpen if he doesn’t win the fifth-starter’s job. And while Dubee said anybody has a chance to make the club out of Spring Training, left-handers Sergio Escalona and Antonio Bastardo haven’t pitched higher than Double-A Reading.

Left-hander Jake Woods, who pitched 16 games last season for the Seattle Mariners, also is in camp.

“We’re looking to fill that spot from the left side, or a right-hander who can get guys out earlier in the game,” Dubee said.

Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com.