Friday, March 11, 2011Posted: 2:30 p.m.
By Brett Ballantini
CSNChicago.com
GLENDALE, Ariz.The first significant injury of Dayan Viciedos career couldnt have come at a worse timea 22nd birthday present that came gift-wrapped by Texas Rangers pitcher Dave Bush, delivered in the eighth inning of last nights 7-6 win.
It was only a 79 mph changeup that broke Viciedos right thumb, but the pitch set the aspiring fourth outfielder back more than just a bunch of spring training at-bats. Viciedo now effectively has no chance to break camp with the White Sox and possibly make a much bigger impact on the big club than anyone imagined possible for 2011.
Viciedo, who admitted his splinted thumb does hurt a little bit but believes that the thumb will not need surgery, was struggling to remain in good spirits.
I was having a great spring training, and Ive been in great shape, so it does hurt that this ends up happening, Viciedo said. This is the last thing I wanted to happen.
The transplanted infielder remained motionless on the field after being hit, and knew immediately that something was wrong.
MLB
As soon as I got hit, I started imagining a break, Viciedo said. After five minutes, I really started to feel the throbbing and pain, and I knew it was something serious.
While Viciedo was seen initially joking in the dugout with manager Ozzie Guillen after the play, the manager later tried to cheer him up.
Ozzie gave me some encouragement and told me to keep at it, Viciedo said. Its just a bump in the road. Ill heal up and go from there.
As Viciedo sat at his locker, in uniform but unable to play for a few weeks, he tried hard not to think about his lost opportunity, and instead point the positives of his first taste of stardom, here in his aborted Cactus League season.
Making the team is really a decision thats up to the coaches, Viciedo said. I just have to go out there and work hard. All Ive been thinking about is staying in shape and working hard in spring training. Whether I was going to make it or not was up to the coaches.
Viciedo had just taken a second set of x-rays before addressing the media, which confirmed a fractured right thumb, the fracture located below his thumbnail. Considered a simple fracture.
Dayan can resume conditioning in 2-3 days (solely because of swelling); two-four weeks, can resume baseball activities.
No surgery needed.
Brighter injury news
Jake Peavy threw a light, 24-pitch side session on Friday and reported being on track for his Monday start vs. the San Diego Padres.
I went very light today, just trying to let my body rest and see if I can recover a little bit better than I did after my first start, Peavy said.
Aside from tweaking his between-start ritual, Peavy reported no issues at all, health-wise.
Just typical arm soreness, Peavy said. Im kind of going through that dead arm period. I went very light, just to play some long toss tomorrow, hopefully run some new blood in there and have a good day offthe go out there Monday and feel 100.
Brett Ballantini is CSNChicago.com's White Sox Insider. Follow him @CSNChi_Beatnik on Twitter for up-to-the-minute White Sox information.