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Joel Peralta Won’t Pitch in World Baseball Classic Because of Sandwich-Related Neck Injury

Joel Peralta‘s hunger really got the best of him.

Peralta won’t be able to pitch for the Dominican Republic in the upcoming World Baseball Classic because of a neck injury he suffered while getting out of his car to buy sandwiches. The Rays reliever fought off the injury to enjoy the sandwiches and isn’t expected to miss much time, but the sandwich incident is apparently serious enough to keep him from fulfilling one of his dreams.

“The main thing is, this is probably the only chance I have to play in the WBC and I’m not going to be able to,” Peralta told MLB.com. “I was hoping that I could. Years earlier, I was anxious for them to invite me to go and they didn’t. Now, they invite me to go and I can’t go. So it hurts a little bit. If I was practicing and pitching, I might change my mind.”

Peralta has been a key component of the Rays’ bullpen the past two seasons, compiling a 3.27 ERA in that span. The 36-year-old went 2-6 with a 3.63 ERA in 76 appearances with Tampa last season.

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