Canada’s Brett Lawrie to miss World Baseball Classic with rib strain

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Canada third baseman Brett Lawrie will miss the World Baseball Classic due to a rib strain.

The Toronto Blue Jays infielder is staying with the national team but won’t play.

The injury is on his left side, the opposite side from the oblique problem that kept him out of action for a month last season.

Lawrie left Canada’s exhibition game against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night with discomfort.

He says he’s withdrawing from the World Baseball Classic because he doesn’t want to jeopardize his season with the Blue Jays.

“It needs time to heal,” Lawrie said. “This is not something that can be healed over night nor the next day. Only time will tell. So as of right now I’m still part of Team Canada but I don’t think I will be competing in the first round, probably nor the next.

“Now it’s all about getting myself ready for the beginning of the season. Paying my dues to my club and trying to get myself back to square one and trying to get myself healthy and that’s the number one goal right now.”

Canada opens the tournament Friday against Italy.