The Dominican Republic will be without its star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the upcoming World Baseball Classic (WBC) due to right knee discomfort, reports Blue Jays manager John Schneider on Friday.
Schneider told reporters Guerrero Jr. had minor inflammation in the knee, but the March 3 MRI didn’t show any structural concerns.
Guerrero Jr. suffered the injury while running the bases after an RBI single during the first inning of Friday’s spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The 23-year-old played on but was later replaced defensively to start the third inning.
He is currently listed as day-to-day, but the team said it was more discomfort than a “pain” issue. Guerrero Jr. will stay with the team in Dunedin, Fla.
Guerrero Jr. was scheduled to leave the Blue Jays’ spring camp in Dunedin after Sunday’s game to join the Dominican Republic team in Miami to open the WBC against Venezuela on Saturday, March 11.
Last season, he played 160 games and hit .274 with 32 homers and 97 RBIs for the Blue Jays.
Jeimer Candelario of the Washington Nationals replaces Guerrero Jr. on Team DR. Candelario had a .217 average last season with the Detroit Tigers and has a .240 average over his career.
Guerrero is the third Blue Jays player to withdraw from the WBC, joining catcher Alejandro Kirk (Mexico) and closer Jordan Romano (Italy).
BluebirdTalk.com 