PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- It's a question that's bound to haunt Detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias throughout his playing career: How are you feeling?

The 25-year-old shortstop was asked, once again, how he felt Friday after he was forced to exit a spring training game in the fourth inning with a right shin contusion.

Approached by reporters in the Tigers' clubhouse after leaving the game against the New York Mets early, Iglesias repeatedly said that he was "OK."

But the ice wrapped around his shin seemed to suggest otherwise.

Iglesias said he bruised his shin in the fourth inning when he slid late into second base while attempting a stolen base. He was called safe, and later scored on a sacrifice fly, but was removed from the game once he reached the dugout.

"I'm really mad about my slide," said Iglesias, when asked about his current state of mind. "I just slid late and I hit the base with my leg. It's a little sore."

A Tigers official echoed Iglesias' statement, confirming the injury is "not at all related to last year's shin injury."

Starting in just his second exhibition game this spring, Iglesias said he'll be able to participate in workouts Saturday and expects to be back in the lineup Sunday against the Astros in Lakeland. He's currently on an every-other-day schedule, and doesn't expect his routine to change in light of Friday's minor setback.

"I'll be able to do everything," Iglesias said. "I'm fine. I'm just bruised."

Manager Brad Ausmus said Iglesias was initially slated to play three or four innings depending on the pace of the game Friday, so it appears the injury didn't take away from his playing time. Still, Iglesias was clearly annoyed after the game.

"It was just a bad slide," Iglesias repeated. "It's just timing -- that's everything. But I got a stolen base and I scored a run for the team, so that's what matters."

Iglesias has admittedly grown frustrated on occasion with the line of questioning surrounding his shins, but he understands the curiosity and skepticism. Stress fractures, which were revealed last spring, kept Iglesias sidelined for the 2014 season, and there's still question as to whether he will be able to play shortstop on an everyday basis.

"It's something I have to deal with, especially this year," Iglesias said. "I have a coaching staff and a team that's worried about me. They want me healthy, and I want to be healthy as well. So we just have to be smart, and work my way up."

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