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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 6:32 a.m., Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Baseball: Astros' Pence receives cuts in home accident

Associated Press

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Houston Astros right fielder Hunter Pence crashed through a sliding glass door in the bathroom of his spring training home, leaving him with multiple cuts that will sideline him for a week.

Pence spent the night in an emergency room after the Monday night accident. He arrived at camp Tuesday with a gash on his right index finger and a brace on his left knee.

"It's pretty silly that this kind of a freak accident happened," Pence said.

Pence said he was in a hot tub at the home where he's staying and got out to use the bathroom. He had left the door open, but didn't noticed that a friend had just closed it. He hit it with his shoulder, leg and head and it shattered.

"I just didn't see the door and jumped through it," he said. "I have small cuts everywhere."

The 24-year-old outfielder said the injuries weren't as bad as they looked.

"I didn't really think I'd go through a glass door," he said. "I was actually lucky, because none of the glass got stuck in any of my wounds."

Pence hit .322 with 69 RBIs and 30 doubles as a rookie in 2007. He finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting, behind Ryan Braun and Troy Tulowitzki.

The Astros held their first full-squad workout Tuesday, but Pence couldn't even straighten his finger or his left leg.

Pence's teammates have already start ribbing him.

"Watch out," catcher Brad Ausmus said to Pence, "there's a glass door over there."