PHOENIX -- Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez said he will continue to play with a bulging disk in his neck that has bothered him since 2010.
Gonzalez was held out of Sunday's workout as a precautionary measure after a base-running drill on Saturday flared up the discomfort on the right side of his neck, which limits range of motion when he turns to face the pitcher while batting.
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"It's the same thing I've been dealing with and we had it looked at over the offseason and we know exactly what it is," said Gonzalez, the most consistent bat in the Dodgers lineup since he arrived in 2012.
"There's not much we can do about it. It's a bulging disk and it's too risky to operate. Just pain management. I wasn't smart with the base-running drill. I have to stay away from things that irritate it."
Gonzalez said the discomfort began while he was still with the Padres and said it's related to the shoulder issues that ultimately required surgery after the 2011 season.
Despite the recurring discomfort, Gonzalez played in 156 games last year and has played at least that many every season since 2006. He led the Major Leagues in RBIs in 2014 and led the Dodgers last year, when he was an All-Star for the fifth time.
Scott Van Slyke has been working as the primary back-up first baseman so far in camp.