Red Sox prospect to miss big league camp after accidentally shooting himself

24-year-old outfielder Bryce Brentz, a first-round draft pick in 2010, was slated to participate in Red Sox spring training beginning next week after three years in the minor leagues. Instead, Brentz will be sidelined after accidentally shooting himself in the leg while cleaning his gun.

He suffered the injury after he attended the team’s Rookie Development Program in early January, according to WEEI’s Alex Speier. The bullet “went into his leg and out the other side,” Boston general manager Ben Cherington told Speier.

Brentz will be out for all of big league camp, but may be able to return for games at the end of spring training (late March), Cherington said. Brentz called the injury “nothing serious.”

“Everything is fine,” Brentz said. “After the rookie program, I had an accident. Everything is fine, but I was cleaning my gun and it accidentally discharged on me and I sustained an injury. Nothing serious. That’s why I was out of big league camp, because at the time I’m not able to participate fully, but I am recovering very fast and should be OK for the season.

A Knoxville, Tenn., native, Brentz played collegiately at Middle Tennessee State before the Red Sox drafted him with the 34th overall pick in 2010.

He hit .306 with 30 home runs and a .939 OPS in Single-A in 2011 and .290 with 17 home runs and a .814 OPS between Double- and Triple-A last season, leading new Red Sox manager John Farrell to see a future for him in the majors, according to Speier.

“Bryce Brentz, he is that power hitting outfielder for us,” said Farrell. “He’s going to be in Triple-A. He’s got a chance, if an injury comes up or we need a right-handed right-fielder, this is a guy that physically profiles to the position.”