New Cuban import Yulieski Gurriel was deactivated on Sunday due to muscle inflammation in his left side, the Yokohama BayStars announced on Sunday.

The 30-year-old slugging infielder, who is suffering from inflammation in his left oblique muscles, was scratched from a July 16 game against the Carp in Hiroshima due to discomfort and examined three days later in Tokyo.

BayStars skipper Kiyoshi Nakahata expressed doubt that Gurriel will be fit soon enough to play as soon as rules make him eligible to rejoin the active roster.

“(To get him back in the minimum of) 10 days will be tough. I wonder how long it will take,” Nakahata said.

Gurriel, who has been receiving treatment while working out at the team’s Eastern League training base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, sounded positive.

“It’s not a big injury,” he said. “I want to complete my treatment as soon as possible and become fit again.”

Easing the pain of Gurriel’s loss is the return of slugging first baseman Tony Blanco, who has missed roughly two months this season due to strained thigh muscles in his left leg, is expected to return to the lineup on Monday.