SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The first bit of advice left-hander Brian Flynn got from his Royals teammates when he arrived here last week was this: Dude, hire someone to do home repairs.
Flynn, who was going to compete for a bullpen job, went on the 60-day disabled list Wednesday after sustaining a broken rib and three non-displaced fractures in his vertebrae following an accident at his home in McAlester, Okla.
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Flynn, 26, was finishing up some repairs to a barn on his property last week when he fell through the roof.
"I was on the roof, fixing some stuff, replacing some panels," Flynn said. "It was no big deal.
"We just bought a place down there and there was some older panels that needed to go. I knew there was some bad paneling, but I can't remember what happened once I got up there. I know I fell through and I whacked my head pretty good. I must have lost my balance.
"I took a 12-foot spill."
Flynn's wife, Kelsey, was outside working in the yard when the accident occurred. Kelsey presently is finishing up medical school.
"She heard a commotion, saw me, and she called the paramedics," Flynn said. "I don't remember any of it."
Brian and Kelsey had just been married last month.
"It was a rough few days for her," Flynn said. "Pretty exciting first month of marriage."
The Royals have indicated that Flynn will be on a no-throw program for four weeks or so, then he will slowly get back into a throwing program. He'll likely stay in Arizona in extended spring training after camp breaks, then wait for a rehab assignment.
"I'll just start my Spring Training a little later," Flynn said.
Flynn had a 2.60 ERA in 36 appearances last season out of the bullpen.
Flynn does have one option left -- because he spent all of 2015 on the disabled list, he will be granted a fourth option.
"All things considered," Flynn said, "it could have been worse. It was a long fall. I got lucky I think."