GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) - Dilson Herrera has inflammation in his right shoulder and will not throw for a couple days, taking the Colombian infielder out of the World Baseball Classic and hurting his chances for making the Cincinnati Reds.
Herrera, who turns 23 next Friday, also experienced shoulder soreness for parts of last season, including during spring training. He said it started bothering him again about a week ago.
The Reds acquired Herrera when they traded Jay Bruce to the New York Mets last summer.
“I’m OK. Sometimes we’ve got to be strong, get the mind right so we’re ready for everything, so I feel normal,” Herrera said.
Reds manager Bryan Price said Herrera probably won’t throw again until Monday or Tuesday.
“He’ll DH tomorrow. He’s fine to hit,” Price said Friday. “But he’s not OK to defend and throw. Until we have that, his shoulder feeling good coming off the end of last year where he had the soreness, it doesn’t make any sense at all to be playing defense in the WBC or for us.”
Asked whether Herrera is going to get any tests on his shoulder, Price said: “He’s been examined extensively and I don’t think there’s any structural damage. There’s just inflammation.”
Herrera spent last season in the minors, hitting .274 with 15 homers and 64 RBIs in 110 games with Triple-A Las Vegas and Louisville. He is a .215 hitter in 49 career major league games, all with the Mets.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.