Injured Volquez happy at Reds' spring training

Feb 20, 2010 - 8:03 PM GOODYEAR, Ariz.(AP) -- Reds pitcher Edinson Volquez was home in the Dominican Republic when he went to a baseball game just to see teammate Francisco Cordero throw in the winter league.

Volquez couldn't throw after season-ending Tommy John surgery, but he said he missed his teammates more than pitching. So he caught up with Cordero after the game and the veteran told Volquez to keep his head up, that spring training was just around the corner.

While he still doesn't take part in all the same activities as his teammates, and rehab is expected to take a full year, Volquez said Saturday he's happy to be around his teammates at spring training in Arizona.

"I'm still here on the team, I feel like I'm part of the team," he said. "I'm with my teammates. You get time with guys in here, you say hello to everyone, they make you happy."

Volquez is tough to miss at the Reds complex.

He's a centerpiece of the clubhouse, holding court in both English and Spanish. As pitchers moved between fielding stations for their first workout on Thursday, Volquez urged them on, telling them to get a move on in both languages, sometimes mixing the two.

An All-Star two years ago, Volquez went just 4-2 with a 4.35 ERA last season before feeling pain in his arm in June.

He was twice on the disabled list, the first time with back spasms and then with the elbow injury that ended his season. Volquez dismisses any talk that his participation in the World Baseball Classic hampered his conditioning or caused the injuries, he refuses to believe it was a product of anything but bad luck.

Now, he's dealing with it. He's already throwing from 130 feet on flat ground, taking fielding practice, bunting and doing "everything a pitcher does except pitch."

The most common mistake among pitchers returning from Tommy John surgery is rushing back, and the Reds are worried about Volquez setting too early of a timetable. He's already said he wants to return by the anniversary of his Aug. 3 surgery.

On Friday, Reds manager Dusty Baker and pitching coach Bryan Price talked to Volquez about what he needs to do during spring training - don't push yourself physically but continue to push yourself mentally.

"He'll come back strong and I'm going to have to talk to him to him about continuing to pitch and compete in his mind even though he's not on the field, continue to play the game like he's pitching," Baker said. "Sit over there and think what pitch he'd throw right now in order to stay in mental continuity and to maintain being a part of the team."

Right now, that's enough for Volquez.