2063.17 Chavez to the IL

[Krathan]

Charlotte trainer Jorge Luna tapped Domingo Chavez on the shoulder. "Follow me, kid. We're gonna chat about the injury in Whit's office."

The pair crossed the clubhouse and entered the manager's office. Whitworth greeted them and asked them to take a seat.

"Hey Domingo. How ya feeling?"

"It hurts a bit, but...I don't think it's serious."

Luna nodded. "It's not too bad kid. It looks like a mild oblique strain. You should start feelin' better in the next couple of days, I think."

"That's great! I just want to get back out there and play."

The manager gave a half smile. "I know you do...but that's part of what we're gonna talk about."

Chavez looked at his manager with a questioning expression. "What's that mean, coach?"

"Look Domingo, we love the way you play the game and we want you out there at your best. You know as well as anybody that you've been havin' a bit of a tough time at the plate lately."

Chavez sat up a little straighter in his chair and started to say something but decided to hold his tongue for now.

The manager continued. "We also want to be careful with this injury. We don't want a mild oblique strain to become something more serious. You're too important to the rest of our season to rus you back out there. All I'm saying is...maybe this is comin' at a good time. We're gonna put you on the IL, just for this week. You'll rest your body and give your mind a chance to reset too. When you're back out there in the finale against Montreal, you'll be right as rain...ready to dominate."

"I don't like missing a whole week, coach. Maybe I can do all that stuff in the next three or four days instead. I'll sit for the Cobble Hill series and be ready to go for the opener in Montreal. Yeah, I really think that's what I need."

Whitworth looked over at Luna. The trainer piped in. "You might feel alright by then...sure...but like Whit said...we don't want to take any chances. A week...a week is probably best."

"Ugh...fine. I'll be ready as soon as you let me play. You can bet on that."

"We know you will, Domingo. That's why we're so glad to have on this team." Whitfield smiled as he said that. "You guys can go."