Justin Duchscherer: Oft-Injured Pitcher Released by Baltimore Orioles

Welcome back from the 60-day disabled list, Justin! Now, get out of here!

That seems to be the sentiment of the Baltimore Orioles, who released Justin Duchscherer after activating him from the disabled list on August 1.

Duchscherer, one of those perpetually injured, unlucky types, was signed by the Orioles on February 4, 2011 to a $700,000 contract. He went on the disabled list with a strained left hip shortly after the signing and didn’t throw a single pitch for the O’s.

After missing all of 2009 and most of 2010 due to injuries and surgeries, the Orioles signed the two-time All-Star in the hopes that he would rebound from his issues and help out their staff—that did not happen.

That’s unfortunate, because when healthy, Duchscherer can be a dominating pitcher, though the main challenge is keeping him healthy.

The last year he did not appear on the disabled list was 2005 with the Oakland Athletics. Even then, he missed 12 games at one point due to back spasms. That season, he posted a 2.21 ERA in 65 relief appearances.

Duchscherer is one of multiple always-hurt pitchers in the game today, with others including Brandon Webb, Rich Harden and Mark Prior. Like Duchscherer, they too have immense talent when not bitten by the injury bug.

Despite coming off the disabled list, Duchscherer’s status has not changed—his hip is still bothering him and he likely will not play at all this year.

Come next season, it will be very difficult for him to find a suitor—that is, this could be the end of the road for this oft-hobbled pitcher.