Phillies top pitching prospect Jesse Biddle had a rough 2014. After getting hit on the head with giant hail in this past summer's hailstorm that damaged countless cars and buildings in the Reading/Wyomissing area this summer, Biddle was not the same down the stretch and was ultimately shut down. Thus, Biddle headed to winter ball. However, once again Biddle had some issues.
Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Biddle has mild tendonitis in his elbow and was shut down once again:
The Phillies will add prospect Jesse Biddle to their 40-man roster later Thursday, and Biddle's recent elbow trouble was diagnosed as mild tendinitis.
It is one positive for Biddle, 23, whose 2014 season was forgettable.
"Everything looked good," said Joe Jordan, the team's director of player development. "Everything is fine. We think he has some tendinitis. Nothing at all. Everything is fine."
"Fine" is a very objective term, of course.
As the piece notes, Biddle will be added to the Phillies' 40-man roster to protect him from being selected in this year's Rule 5 draft. The Phillies' 40-man roster currently stands at 34, leaving room for six more players. Gelb reports that pitchers Nefi Ogando and Adam Morgan may join him on the 40-man roster as well. Morgan spent 2014 injured, and Ogando thrived this Arizona Fall League. Morgan is a Phillies draft pick, but Ogando came to the Phillies in exchange for John McDonald in late 2013.
