Red Sox slugger Ortiz still weeks away from action

Jun 25, 2008 - 11:11 PM By Mike Petraglia PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BOSTON (Ticker) -- Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz may still be several weeks away from swinging a bat at full speed.

But one day after taking 25 light swings off a batting tee to test his healing left wrist, Ortiz said Wednesday he is encouraged.

"It's not ready yet but it's better than what it was," Ortiz said. "It's recovering pretty much on pace for what they thought it was going to be. It's all right. I'm disappointed. I want to be playing, but not too much I can do about it but wait. Of course, I want to be out there swinging like I normally do, but it's a healing process."

Ortiz has been on the 15-day disabled list with a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist, an injury he suffered on May 31 in Baltimore.

"Not real aggressive," added Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who has been using J.D. Drew and Kevin Youkilis to fill in for Ortiz. "That wasn't the purpose. There's got to be a place to start and before we get on the road, the guys wanted to see him do it.

"It's going to be a little slow at first, which it's supposed to be but everything kind of going according to plan."

Ortiz was batting .252 with 13 homers and 43 RBIs in 54 games at the time of the injury. He said the slow timetable to full speed is somewhat frustrating but understandable.

"It's another few weeks before I start swinging. It's not a setback," Ortiz said. "Actually, it's positive because when I got hurt, I couldn't even hold a bat so now at least I'm able to swing slowly, and it's good to know what point I'm at in my progress."

"Progressively build up in reps and intensity, leading to soft toss, B.P. and eventually into some games," Francona said.

Ortiz said he is still weeks away from playing in a game and anticipates going on a rehab stint before re-joining the Red Sox.

"I didn't think he was disappointed at all," Francona added. "I think he did what he was supposed to. I think sometimes players want to go from zero to 100, which you can't. But down deep, I think David probably knows it went pretty well. He just wants to be in there now."