Berríos building up to rejoin Blue Jays after WBC denials, ‘weird’ injury |
DUNEDIN, Fla. – The atmosphere at Hiram Bithorn Stadium during Puerto Rico’s World Baseball Classic games is special, so when José Berríos was denied insurance for pool play, the decision hit the Toronto Blue Jays right-hander “really, really hard.”
A chance to pitch for the national team, at home, in front of children Valentina, Sebastian and Diego Jose, would have meant so much to the family, and a similar opportunity may not come up again.
“That's the tough part,” Berríos said. “But I guess I understand what the situation is, dealing with the process. The beginning was frustrating, but my kids still had a chance to go to the games in Puerto Rico for that first round. They enjoyed every game. They were so pumped up. They learned. So, that's great.
“Being there and pitching in front of them, that's something I'm going to miss. But there’s nothing I can do.”
The same applies to the even bigger shock Berríos received when he was denied insurance a second time, ahead of the WBC quarterfinals, when an MRI revealed the stress fracture in his right elbow, causing him to open a season on the injured list for the first time.
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