Posey ‘zapped' by shingles, hopes to play Thursday

Share

DENVER -- Giants catcher Buster Posey was scratched from Wednesday's lineup because of a case of shingles that flared up toward the end of Sunday's game at Arizona.

Posey was diagnosed with the viral infection on Monday, when he had a planned day of rest. He assumed he would be fine after Tuesday's break in the schedule. But Hector Sanchez replaced him behind the plate in Wednesday's lineup, batting fifth.

Posey lifted his sleeve to show the red blisters on the underside of his left arm. They also extend down his forearm and down his left shoulder and back.

"You feel zapped," he said. "it I just feel worn down still. I'm planning on being in there (Thursday), though."

Shingles are triggered by the same virus that causes chicken pox, which Posey recalled having when he was 5 or 6 years old. The virus stays dormant in areas of the body, most commonly the spinal column. A flare can be triggered by a cold, a lack of sleep or stress.

Posey said he started to feel worn down toward the end of the exhibition schedule. The blisters began to emerge in the latter stages of Sunday's game.

"It's not real comfortable, but it could be worse," Posey said. "I'm lucky it's not on my face. I just feel crappy still. (Tuesday's) day off wasn't the most relaxing day off ever."

Posey is taking anti-viral medication; he's been advised that the condition generally clears in four to five days, but can take as long as three weeks. In the meantime, Posey is considered contagious but the virus is not easily transmitted.

Shingles more commonly affects adults over the age of 60 or people with compromised immune systems.

Contact Us