SARASOTA, FLA. — Orioles third baseman Jimmy Paredes, who is likely heading to the disabled list with a lower back strain, said Friday the injury is feeling better and he doesn't believe he will be sidelined for long.
"It feels better than a couple days ago," Paredes said Friday. "I'm going to take treatment day by day so we'll see. I think I'll be OK because I feel better."
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said that Paredes suffered the injury while lifting weights earlier this week. He last played on Tuesday, so if he does go on the disabled list, he can't be activated until April 16. Paredes said he isn't ruling out Opening Day, but it seems likely he will open the season on the DL
"I feel like the injury isn't too bad," Paredes said. "I think I can come back soon. I never get down. Once I feel a little better, I'll be ready to work the same way I do every year. In the offseason, in the spring, I've worked really hard to be ready for the regular season."
Paredes was the Orioles best hitter this spring, batting .364 with 10 extra-base hits (seven doubles, one triple and two homers) and 12 RBIs. After spending time with five different organizations – including two separate stints with the Orioles -- he was on the verge of making his first Opening Day roster.
"We'll see how it goes," Paredes said. "I want to make the team and be with the team. We'll see what happen. You have to trust yourself. Something happens for one reason. I don't know why it happens. I feel like it will be sad because I want to compete every day to make the team."
The 26-year-old Paredes, who has gone through position changes and being shuttled between the majors and minors for most of the past four seasons, thought he has finally found a spot with the Orioles. Paredes hit .302 in 18 games with the Orioles last season after being called up in September.
And this spring, the Orioles fell in love with Paredes' switch-hitting bat, especially from the left side of the plate, where he hit .412 this spring against right-handed pitching. While the club also saw marked improvement defensively, Paredes would likely have seen most of his time in the DH spot.
"I never [thought] that [this] would happen," Paredes said of the injury. "When it [happened], I [asked myself] 'Why?' But it's OK. … I feel better than I did a couple days ago."
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