Griffey Says He Broke Hand Roughhousing

Ken Griffey Jr. is finally saying what broke his throwing hand _ wrestling with his kids.

The Cincinnati Reds center fielder said he was wrestling with his daughter and two younger sons on his yacht in the Bahamas this past December when the oldest jumped in and knocked him off balance. He landed awkwardly on his left hand.

"It was nothing that could violate my contract," he said Friday after reporting early for training camp. "It was Dad being Dad."

Griffey said the hand feels fine and he expects to be ready to go for spring training. He was waiting for Reds medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek to reevaluate it.

"It's just getting stronger, that's the biggest thing," Griffey said. "I don't have any loss of range of motion. It's just a matter of getting everything stronger."

Questions about his durability have dogged him because of his eight stays on the disabled list since he rejoined his hometown team in a trade before the 2000 season.

The 37-year-old Griffey had been silent about the cause of the offseason injury, not giving interviews or allowing the Reds to announce the cause. Many theories surfaced, including a motorcycle accident _ but Griffey said his 2003 model has just 57 miles on it because he hasn't ridden it in three years.

The Reds had reported the accident happened at home, and Griffey said Friday he lives on his yacht in the offseason.

Griffey said his 13-year-old son, Trey, doesn't know his own strength. He said he fell awkwardly because he twisted to avoid landing on the three younger children.

"He got me on an angle and there I went," he said. "He got me low and lifted."