Projo Sox Blog

It's been a long road back for Mark Kotsay, but after three months of rehab, the end is finally in sight.

Kotsay, who underwent lower back surgery in February, began a two-game rehabilitation assignment with Pawtucket today. He went 1-5 with an RBI single and a strikeout, but making good contact most of the time.

"I felt good. I saw the ball real well, for not being in a competitive environment since October, I think it went well," Kotsay said.

Kotsay served as Pawtucket's designated hitter today. He will play six innings in centerfield tomorrow, and then be re-evaluated. He could join the major league club early this week.

He felt good on the full-torsion swings-and-misses, which was his main concern.

"I feel great. The biggest test for me, from a back standpoint, was the swing-and-misses -- which went well, unfortunately," Kotsay said with a chuckle.

Kotsay, 33, has spent most of the last few months rehabilitating in Florida, following surgery to repair a displaced disc fragment between his L4/5 vertebrae. He worked on physical drills through March, and then in April got into extended spring training games.

After countless cone drills, strengthening exercises, and batting cage sessions, Kotsay's biggest concern is getting himself adjusted to full game speed.

"Anytime you go into a competitive atmosphere, you've got to see how your body responds, regardless of whether you're prepared or not," Kotsay said.

In his first at-bat, he worked a 3-2 count, then grounded out to third base. He came up again in the third, and popped out to third base. When the PawSox batted around in the inning, Kotsay came up again, and this time singled to right, driving a change-up to right to bring in second baseman Travis Denker

In the sixth, he hit a slider for a solid line drive to left, but into the glove of Gwinnett Braves left fielder J.C. Holt. He struck out in the eighth against Gwinnett's Boone Logan on a fastball off the plate -- but said he probably would have taken his walk if he wasn't on a rehab assignment.

"Ball four, but I'm here to swing and be aggressive," he said.

The back pain is gone for the most part, though he still experiences soreness.

"You're never going to have no pain and all. You're still going to be stiff and sore. Something you get operated on, it doesn't just go away. It takes time to heal completely, but you manage it, know the difference between soreness and pain and keep plugging away," Kotsay said.

Kotsay came to Boston in a trade last August when J.D. Drew went on the disabled list, and the Sox needed a bat off the bench. He became an immediate contributor at first base and in the outfield, and earned significant playing time during the playoffs.

When the season ended, it seemed that the player and the club would go their separate ways. But Kotsay re-signed with Boston in January.

The Red Sox brought him back as much for his clubhouse presence as for his on-field contributions. Kotsay called Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson last night when his rehab assignment became official, and Johnson said the major leaguer was the first one at the park today -- joking and laughing with the minor league players.

"He's in here, first one in the clubhouse, fired up, already talking about how many runs we're going to score today," Johnson said.

"He's one of the best people you're ever going to talk to. What a great guy," Johnson said. "He's a veteran player, and as fun, and as good for a team as you're going to find. I 100 percent get on board with why they went and brought him back here."

 Tags  Boston Red Sox Dan Barbarisi Mark Kotsay

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