Dontrelle Willis placed on DL with anxiety disorder

Detroit Free Press, Jon Paul Morosi's blog: LAKELAND, Fla. -- "The saga of Dontrelle Willis’ tenure with the Tigers assumed an entirely different hue today, as the left-hander was placed on the disabled list with an anxiety disorder.

• Team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski made no prediction about when Willis will pitch again. But he remains “fairly optimistic” that Willis will return to the majors this year.

Willis said the diagnosis was made through a blood test. The condition, though, is psychiatric in nature. According to the Web site of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, the disorders “develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality and life events.”

• The Tigers sought, and received, clearance from the commissioner’s office to move Willis to the DL for that reason. A spokesman for Major League Baseball confirmed that players have been placed on the disabled list because of anxiety disorders in the past. Zack Greinke, currently a standout right-hander for the Kansas City Royals, missed much of the 2006 season for a similar reason.

Willis said he is not depressed now and has not been depressed in the past."...via Lucianne.com

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