San Diego Padres reliever Yuki Matsui left a batting practice session early Thursday due to left groin tightness, raising concerns about his availability for Japan's World Baseball Classic roster. The 30-year-old left-hander is considered day to day, with the injury not expected to be long-term, but it could affect his buildup for the tournament opener against Taiwan in two weeks.

Matsui has been a reliable middle-inning option for the Padres over two seasons, posting a 3.86 ERA across 125 appearances. Padres manager Craig Stammen acknowledged the injury puts Matsui's WBC participation in question, noting they need to assess his recovery over the coming days. The defending WBC champion Japan would face a significant bullpen challenge without Matsui's contributions.

Stammen indicated Matsui could return to playing catch as early as this weekend, depending on how he responds to the day off. The timing is particularly concerning as Matsui was expected to play a key role in Japan's bullpen during their WBC title defense. His absence would force Japan to adjust their pitching plans just weeks before the tournament begins.