MIAMI — Atlanta Braves star Chipper Jones will miss the rest of the World Baseball Classic because of a strain in his right side that has bothered him for a week.
Jones, who is 0-for-10 with six strikeouts in the WBC, was scratched from Sunday’s game against the Netherlands after he aggravated the injury. He planned to return to the Braves’ camp in Kissimmee for treatment.
“It’s something that’s really bugging me and progressively getting worse,” Jones said. “So it’s important to get it taken care of.”
With prompt treatment, Jones said, he likes his chances to be ready for opening day.
“I hope so, as long as we take care of it now and we don’t come back too soon and have it just linger,” he said.
Jones left last Sunday’s game against Venezuela after five innings because of the injury. He missed a game Wednesday and went 0-for-3 Saturday in an 11-1 seven-inning loss to Puerto Rico that left the Americans one defeat from elimination.
Jones is the second U.S. starter in as many days to pull out of the WBC. Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia was sidelined Saturday by an abdominal strain.
“Knowing that I’m not going to be able to be a part of that is disappointing,” Jones said. “But I’ve got to look at the bigger picture.”
Jones, who is 0-for-10 with six strikeouts in the WBC, was scratched from Sunday’s game against the Netherlands after he aggravated the injury. He planned to return to the Braves’ camp in Kissimmee for treatment.
“It’s something that’s really bugging me and progressively getting worse,” Jones said. “So it’s important to get it taken care of.”
With prompt treatment, Jones said, he likes his chances to be ready for opening day.
“I hope so, as long as we take care of it now and we don’t come back too soon and have it just linger,” he said.
Jones left last Sunday’s game against Venezuela after five innings because of the injury. He missed a game Wednesday and went 0-for-3 Saturday in an 11-1 seven-inning loss to Puerto Rico that left the Americans one defeat from elimination.
Jones is the second U.S. starter in as many days to pull out of the WBC. Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia was sidelined Saturday by an abdominal strain.
“Knowing that I’m not going to be able to be a part of that is disappointing,” Jones said. “But I’ve got to look at the bigger picture.”