Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez on field for batting practice before Game 2

Veteran first baseman Adrian Gonzalez was on the field with the Los Angeles Dodgers for batting practice before Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday night, two days after returning from a trip to Italy.

It had been reported Tuesday that Gonzalez, who was shut down for the season with a back injury after going on the disabled list for the first time in his career, was in Europe as the World Series was beginning, but in fact he was in Europe last week.

On Wednesday, Gonzalez told the Los Angeles Times he had asked the Dodgers for permission to travel to Italy to help his wife and two daughters move. He was there for just over a week and returned to Los Angeles on Monday.

"Coming back, I was having reservations about coming," Gonzalez told the Times before the Astros tied the World Series at 1-1 with an 11-inning victory over the Dodgers. "But then, obviously, it's the World Series, and talking to Justin [Turner] and talking to [Yasiel] Puig, they were like, 'We want you to be here.'"

Manager Dave Roberts told the Times that Gonzalez cannot be in the dugout during World Series games because he was not designated as a player eligible to be added to the active roster in case of injury.

Gonzalez said he planned to watch Game 2 from a suite at Dodger Stadium and will join the team in Houston for Games 3, 4 and 5, according to the Times.

He watched the National League Division Series from home and the National League Championship Series from Italy. He did not join the team for introductions before Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday.

Gonzalez told the Times he chose to watch the NLDS from home because he didn't want to be a distraction.

"People were going to be like, 'Oh, doesn't it suck?'" he said. "My whole thing is, avoiding this, avoiding the article.

"Then they swept the division series, so I'm like, OK, we're all superstitious guys, it's a superstitious sport. I don't want to show up and all of a sudden they lose and be like, 'Oh, man, I'm bad luck.'"

A five-time All-Star, Gonzalez has played more games without a World Series appearance than any other active players exceptIchiro Suzuki and Brandon Phillips.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.