Tampa Bay Rays reliever Ronald Belisario will be forced to sit out the start of the season because of a swimming pool incident.
Yep, a pool incident. Belisario fractured his left shoulder while getting out of a swimming pool in his Venezuelan hometown, according to ESPN.
The Rays' president of baseball operations, Matt Silverman, said that Belisario will not be able to throw for several weeks.
"He said he had an accident a month ago getting out of a swimming pool," Silverman said. "And it hadn't been checked out until he got here. It's going to push him back several weeks. We don't expect him to be ready for the beginning of the season."
The right-hander signed a minor-league deal with the Rays, with an invitation to spring training. He spent last season with the White Sox after pitching for the Dodgers from 2009-13.
"He was competing for a spot on the opening day roster," Silverman said. "We have a number of relievers in the same situation. So the competition will be even more fierce among that group."
At this point, the Rays aren't expected to look outside their bullpen for other pitchers.
"At this point, I know coming in we felt very strong about the competition, about who was competing for those spots," manager Kevin Cash said. "So I don't see anything coming. But that could change tomorrow. We like the guys that we have in camp for sure. And we would have liked to have him ready. But we'll adjust a little bit."