Reuters, Phoenix, Mar 26: Texas Rangers starting pitcher Tommy Hunter faces at least six weeks out and will miss the start of the season after straining his right groin muscle.
The news of Hunter's injury came just hours after the Rangers had announced he would be in its starting rotation and comes just days before Texas opened its season against the Boston Red Sox on April 1.
Hunter, 25, will return to Arlington for an injection of his own blood platelets as part of the recovery process.
'That's a fair range,' assistant general manager Thad Levine said of the anticipated recovery period. 'We'll have to update that as he responds to treatment and the injection.'
Hunter, who was out for 10 weeks in 2009 with a groin injury, said he was optimistic the healing time would not be so long.
'I don't think it's as bad (as 2009). You don't know how bad it is until you're able to start doing things.'
Hunter was 13-4 in 22 starts with the Rangers last season.