Lotzkar Fractures His Elbow

Bad news for Kyle Lotzkar, as his season is done and injury questions linger. His career is just under way, so already suffering an arm injury is not a good sign. While the fracture is better news than a shoulder or elbow injury, it still is cause for concern. It would be one thing if he was hit by a line drive, but to get it just from the pitching motion is a bit disconcerting.

Here's the news from Baseball America's Prospect Blog:

Reds’ Lotzkar Fractures Elbow

Posted Aug. 5, 2008 4:33 pm by Jim Shonerd

Reds righthander Kyle Lotzkar, a 2007 supplemental first-round pick, has gone on the disabled list with a fractured elbow, which he suffered pitching for low Class A Dayton on Sunday when he had to come out during the third inning of his start in Quad Cities.

Lotzkar, 18, was the 53rd overall pick in last year’s draft after shooting up draft boards when he showed a mid-90s fastball, a 78-82 mph curveball and a potentially plus changeup. This year, Lotzkar didn’t join Dayton until mid-June, but his lively stuff was already showing through as he racked up 50 strikeouts and gave up only 29 hits in 37 2/3 innings over 10 starts in which he went 2-3, 3.58. He sometimes had trouble with his control, giving out 24 walks, but that was not unexpected coming from a young pitcher in his first full professional season.