Royals prospect Flynn out 3-5 months with lat injury

KANSAS CITY -- Left-hander Brian Flynn, who nearly made the Royals' 25-man roster out of Spring Training, will miss 3-5 months because of a torn lat muscle.

Flynn pitched in only one game for Triple-A Omaha, throwing two-thirds of an inning before being removed because of the injury.

Flynn, who is the 18th-ranked prospect in the Royals' farm system, was fighting for the final job in the Kansas City bullpen with right-hander Ryan Madson, and the competition went down to the final weekend of Spring Training.

Royals officials do not believe Flynn's injury will be season-ending, and they estimate he could be back in August. The injury does not require surgery.

Flynn, who will turn 25 on Sunday, was acquired from the Marlins in the Aaron Crow trade. Crow recently was diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow.