JUPITER, Fla. – Chris Carpenter realizes his baseball career may be over.
The 37-year-old right-hander made a surprise appearance at the St. Louis Cardinals’ spring-training camp Monday and said he’s still dealing with numbing and tingling sensations in his pitching hand, arm and shoulder.
“I’m not going to have surgery anymore,” Carpenter said. “We’ll see what happens. I don’t see it. With the things that are going on in times of every day life, I just don’t see it getting better to be honest with you.”
Asked if he wanted to continue pitching, Carpenter said, “I do. I just don’t think I can.”
The 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner is 144-94 with a 3.76 ERA in 15 big league seasons.
He underwent neurogenic thoracic outlet surgery last July to eliminate a nerve issue that he’s pitched with in his right shoulder since 2008. He returned to make three starts in September and three in the playoffs and planned on a healthful start to 2013.
But as Carpenter ramped up his bullpen sessions in St. Louis the week before spring training, the weakness and numbness that he had dealt with for years returned. He informed the Cardinals that he was unable to continue pitching.
World Classic
Alex Rios hit a two-run homer, Mike Aviles singled twice and drove in a run, and Puerto Rico eliminated two-time reigning World Baseball Classic champion Japan with a 3-1 win Sunday to reach the final. Puerto Rico will play in tonight’s championship against either the Netherlands or the Dominican Republic.
Around the leagues
Daisuke Matsuzaka will not make Cleveland’s opening-day roster but plans to remain with Cleveland. Matsuzaka, 32, may accept an offer to stay in the club’s minor league camp. … Zack Greinke’s first regular-season start for the Dodgers will be pushed back by at least a few days and possibly longer. … San Diego third baseman and for former Wizards player Chase Headley (left thumb) will miss at least the first two weeks of the season. … Boston’s David Ortiz canceled a batting practice session because heel pain that has sidelined the designated hitter for nine days is still too great for him to play. … In Viera, Fla., Detroit rallied for four runs off Rafael Soriano in the seventh inning and beat Washington 5-1. … In Peoria, Ariz., Edwin Jackson gave up one run and three hits in six innings as the Cubs defeated San Diego 5-2. … In Goodyear, Ariz., Ubaldo Jimenez struck out five in 5 1/3 innings, helping Cleveland beat Milwaukee 4-2.
