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Justin · 03-20-2007, 01:11 PM

Right fielder recovering after fouling ball off right kneecap

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VIERA, Fla. -- After taking a foul ball off his right kneecap Saturday afternoon, Jeremy Hermida remained in Jupiter on Sunday for treatment.

The Marlins' 23-year-old right fielder was initially scheduled to make the trip to Space Coast Stadium to face the Nationals.

Hermida arrived at the team's Roger Dean Stadium complex around 7:30 a.m. ET, but the club's medical staff felt he should stay behind for treatment.

"It's a little swollen and tight," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Hermida is now day-to-day, and Gonzalez is hopeful he will be ready Monday, when the Marlins take on the Astros at Roger Dean Stadium.

Spring Training statistics often aren't an accurate indicator to gauge progress, but Hermida is struggling, with an .057 (2-for-35) batting average, 11 strikeouts and seven walks.

Hermida took a foul ball off his kneecap during his third at-bat Saturday against the Orioles.

Gonzalez says Hermida projects to be a regular when the season opens on April 2 at Washington.

The Marlins' first-round pick in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Hermida endured an injury-plagued 2006 rookie season, seeing action in 99 games and batting .251. He was hampered early by a hip flexor problem, and late in the year, he missed time with a stress fracture to his right ankle.

The Marlins are preaching patience with a number of their young players.

"With everybody, really, you've got to have patience," Gonzalez said. "What kind of message do you set if a guy goes 0-for-20 or 0-for-30, you sit him on the bench?

"It might change tomorrow. We have the right to change our mind, change our opinion. If he's our guy and our people think he's our guy, then he's got a chance of being on that Opening Day roster. I don't think anybody is guaranteed but just a couple of guys. But if he is our guy, and we think he's our guy, then let's give him an opportunity."

Gonzalez pointed out that Hermida enjoyed a highly productive Minor League career.

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