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Posted on Thu, Feb. 19, 2009 04:54 PM
Royals' Guillen out after removing ingrown nail himself
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SURPRISE, Ariz. | Royals outfielder José Guillen expects to return to full-time drills, perhaps by this weekend, after easing the pain in his right big toe by yanking out a severely ingrown nail.
The nail was only a slight irritant Monday when Guillen reported to camp but soon worsened from the pounding caused by various workouts.
"The doctor saw me (Wednesday)," Guillen said, "and he said we’ll see how it feels in the morning. If it wasn't any better, he wanted me to have surgery. I thought, 'Whoaaa.'
"So I went on my own (Wednesday) to the pharmacy, got some tweezers, came home and pulled it out myself. Let me tell you, I cried. I had one tough hour. But I got it out."
Guillen said the nail had hooked and twisted deep into the skin.
"I reached in there (with the tweezers)," he said, "and poked around until I got the end of it. Then I counted one, two, three and just pulled …. Oh, my God. It came out, but tears were running down my cheeks."
Club officials weren't particularly pleased by the self-surgery but indicated the biggest concern now is avoiding an infection. Guillen is being treated with antibiotics but said his toe is already much better.
"Look"” he said, pushing off on his heel. "I can put pressure on it. It's not painful anymore. We'll see how it grows out now. Hopefully, this won't bother me, and it won’t hold me back or anything like that." Guillen said he won't play next month for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic if not completely healthy.
Dominican manager Felipe Alou visited the Royals' camp Thursday to meet with Guillen and catcher Miguel Olivo, who remains undecided about playing in the WBC.
Olivo said he would decide by today whether to play or remain with the Royals. Guillen won't know until the nail begins to grow out, a process that could take several days.
"I just talked to Felipe," he said. "I told him that the only way I'm going to play is if I'm 100 percent healthy. Make sure people understand that. Because when you write it, they'll see it in the Dominican.
"I'm planning to play now, and I’m scheduled to leave March 2. But if I'm not 100 percent, I'm not going. This is more important to me than the World Baseball Classic."
To reach Bob Dutton, Royals reporter for The Star, call (816) 234-4352 or send email to bdutton@kcstar.com.
Posted on Thu, Feb. 19, 2009 04:54 PM
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