Projo Sox Blog

Jed Lowrie's surgically repaired left wrist is getting stronger day by day, and the advanced measures use to test its power show constant improvement.

The hope is that the left wrist will roughly even out with the right wrist, and then he should be close to a return.

The problem is, when Lowrie works to strengthen his left hand, he squeezes a resistance egg in his right hand, too. So his right wrist keeps getting stronger at the same time, making it a little tough to tell just how strong the left wrist is. Right now, its strength rating of 117 is 85 percent of the right wrist's 145 -- roughly the same ratio as a previous reading, because both wrists are improving simultaneously.

"It stayed at 85 percent because my right hand keeps getting stronger," Lowrie said.

Now of course, as long as the numbers keep climbing, that's a good thing. And the fact that Lowrie's wrist is already that strong, as opposed to a pre-surgery reading of 60 taken in Anaheim, is equally good news.

"The strength deficit in that wrist is really important. That'll be the key, regardless of whatever timing there is. When that deficit doesn't become a deficit, that's when he'll be ready to go," manager Terry Francona said.

Lowrie could be ready to return in a few weeks' time. He planned both balls off a batting tee and balls flipped by a coach today.

On defense, coaches have hit balls off a Fungo bat at Lowrie, hard, and he has responded well. He has been making throws across the diamond, and has been able to field most balls cleanly.

"I haven't had any problems with Fungoes yet," Lowrie said.

Julio Lugo and Nick Green have played shortstop for Boston with Lowrie out.

 Tags  Boston Red Sox Dan Barbarisi Jed Lowrie Julio Lugo Nick Green

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