Coming back from right achilles tendinopathy, David Ortiz had a strong day Saturday, and he could join Triple-A Pawtucket by the end of the week. A return some time in the third week of April to the major-league team appears plausible.
TORONTO — In "a good place" per Red Sox manager John Farrell, designated hitter David Ortiz is set to play in a game setting for the first time this year on Monday. He'll take at-bats in an extended spring training game in Fort Myers, Fla.
Coming back from right achilles tendinopathy, Ortiz had a strong day Saturday, and he could join Triple-A Pawtucket by the end of the week. A return some time in the third week of April to the major league team appears plausible.
"Our tentative plan is for him to have three of those (extended spring) days before he’d go out and likely join Pawtucket at that point," Farrell said. "I think most importantly was the day he had yesterday, it really puts him in line to begin the next progression and that’s in game.
"Very good day yesterday. Ran the bases, took swings in the cage, tracked (Franklin) Morales’ sim game, had an additional six rounds of BP on the field. So a full work day yesterday and that puts him in line for live at-bats tomorrow in an extended spring training game on Monday.”
Ortiz's recovery time has become less and less throughout his rehab.
"That’s the gauge by which we ramp up the intensity," Farrell said. "His outlook has become more positive as time has gone by and he’s in a good place right now and he’s looking forward to the next progression here.”
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