Advertisement

Padilla is treated for minor gunshot wound

Share

Vicente Padilla, who revived his career in the Dodgers’ run to the National League Championship Series, was treated for a minor self-inflicted gunshot wound in his right leg at a hospital in his native Nicaragua on Tuesday, his agent Adam Katz said.

Katz described the incident as a “hunting accident,” saying that Padilla was grazed in his right thigh by a bullet. Katz said that Padilla spent 30 to 40 minutes at a hospital and was discharged.

“He’s fine,” Katz said.

News reports out of Nicaragua stated that Padilla was hurt at a shooting range. At least two news outlets reported that Padilla was accidentally shot by his “escort,” who was trying to fix Padilla’s malfunctioning gun.

Advertisement

Padilla is expected to file for free agency in the coming weeks, but General Manager Ned Colletti said he has told Katz that the Dodgers are interested in re-signing the 32-year-old right-hander.

Asked whether the incident could alter the Dodgers’ decision to pursue Padilla this winter, Colletti said he didn’t know enough about the matter.

When the Dodgers were eliminated from the playoffs this month, Padilla said he wanted to return to Los Angeles next season.

“They gave me an opportunity,” Padilla said. “If they give me another opportunity, sure.”

The Dodgers signed Padilla in August, when his reputation was in tatters. He was released by the Texas Rangers earlier in the month and was publicly trashed by his former teammates on his way out.

But Padilla had a 4-0 record with a 3.20 earned-run average for the Dodgers in the last two months of the regular season.

Padilla closed out the Dodgers’ sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL division series by pitching seven shutout innings in Game 3.

Advertisement

Padilla held the Philadelphia Phillies to one run over 7 1/3 innings in Game 2 of the NLCS. With the Dodgers a defeat away from elimination, Padilla was called upon to start Game 5, but was pounded for six runs in three innings in the series-ending loss.

Mattingly news

Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly has declined to be interviewed by the Washington Nationals for their vacant managerial position, Colletti said through a team spokesman late Tuesday. Manager Joe Torre has pushed for Mattingly to be his successor and Mattingly has talked to Colletti this month about his long-term future with the Dodgers, according to sources.

--

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com

Advertisement