BASEBALL: Padres LHP Yuki Matsui to miss WBC for Japan

San Diego Padres reliever Yuki Matsui will not pitch for Japan in next month’s World Baseball Classic after suffering a groin injury.

The 30-year-old left-hander was ruled out Thursday, about a week after feeling tightness in his left groin during a batting practice session at spring training.

“It’s pretty disappointing,” Matsui said through team interpreter Ike Ogata. “Especially since I didn’t do so well in the last WBC, and I was looking forward to playing in this one. But that’s not the only thing. It’s baseball. I’m trying to move on, to get the best preparation for the season and to play for the Padres.”

Last season, Matsui went 3-1 with a 3.98 ERA in 61 relief appearances for San Diego. Overall, he has a 7-3 record with a 3.86 ERA in 125 appearances, giving up 18 home runs in 126 innings over the past two seasons.

Matsui’s availability for the Padres’ regular-season opener against the visiting Detroit Tigers on March 26 remains uncertain.

“Right now, I’m just continuing the throwing progression, getting intensities and distances of catch back up,” Matsui said. “Once it’s good enough, then I’ll start throwing off the mound. But as to when, we don’t know yet. … We’re not sure yet about Opening Day.”

Defending champion Japan will face Chinese Taipei in its first WBC game on March 6. Matsui’s spot on the roster has been filled by fellow southpaw Yumeto Kanemaru, who pitches for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan.

—Field Level Media/Reuters