Projo Sox Blog

Mark Kotsay, working his way back from January back surgery, hit balls on a tee today for the first time, and is progressing well towards a May return.

"I was reintroducing that motion, with a bat in my hand, as opposed to a weight or a machine," Kotsay said. "It was good, and let's see how I respond tomorrow."

Kotsay has been severely limited this spring as his strengthens his rebuilt back. Swinging the bat without pain was a major step, and he'll take it day-by-day from now forward, gauging how hard he can push his body.

"I wouldn't be doing anything if I had any type of pain. That's how I progress. If I do a workload like I did today, and come in tomorrow stiff, then I'll back off. I have to gauge it by what my body tells me. And right now it's telling me to keep going," he said.

Manager Terry Francona said that Kotsay is right on schedule, and his rehab work has been excellent.

"He's done a good job. He's right on date. Today might be the eight week mark. He's really stayed on schedule. He was excited, as he should be," Francona said.

Kotsay stood in against another rehabbing Red Sox, John Smoltz, so the rusty hitter could see and time some pitches.

"It was fun for both of us just to kind of get back, and for me, to see live pitching, and for him to have a presence in the box," he said.

Assuming his back feels good tomorrow, Kotsay will now progress to more swinging and baseball drills. He is also doing pylometric to build core strength, and leg work to get his stride back. He will travel with the team to Boston when they break camp, and is still targeting May 1 as a return date.

"I don't think I'll be earlier, but I think that's a realistic goal," he said.

Meanwhile, Chris Carter, Jeff Bailey, and Brad Wilkerson all vie to replace Kotsay for that month.

 Tags  Dan Barbarisi John Smoltz Mark Kotsay Terry Francona

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