Peavy Encouraged After Throwing Bullpen Session
BOSTON (CBS) - Jake Peavy was back on the mound on Wednesday, just days after he cut the index finger on his left hand while fishing with his sons.
Peavy threw 40 pitches in a bullpen session at the Red Sox spring training complex in Fort Myers, Florida, and was happy to toe the rubber again.
"To be able to go on the mound and get some good work in was crucial," Peavy told reporters after the session.
Peavy was scratched from his first start of the spring on Monday following the accident, which occurred when he went fishing with his two young boys over the weekend. He had to have the wound cleaned out and stitched up, and is having the dressing examined daily.
The former Cy Young winner threw long-toss on Tuesday, but did not wear a glove on his non-throwing hand for fear that any perspiration could cause an infection. Peavy was back to wearing a glove on Wednesday, but did not catch any throws back to the mound.
"The biggest thing is figuring out how to make sure the wound doesn't come open," he said. "We're going to have to figure out a way to catch the ball before I play in a game. I think that's something we're going to discuss tomorrow."
"But it's encouraging that I feel like I can do anything I need to do other than catch a hard-hit ball," said Peavy. "We just can't take the risk of it opening up again and getting infected as deep as it is, because that could cause problems."
The Boston right-hander said he does not have a timetable for his return, but he's confident this won't drag into the regular season.
"I don't see that being a problem. I don't foresee it going that long," said Peavy, who went 4-1 in 10 starts with Boston after being acquired from the White Sox at the trade deadline last season. "You can get some work in in any kind of controlled environment to get your arm speed up. I don't think the number of games you get in (during the spring) has anything to do with it. It's really the workload, and you can do that in a simulated environment."
"Should it come down to it we could simulate game environment and then throw one or two less games and still be ready," Peavy said confidently.
Peavy finished the 2013 season 12-5 with a 4.17 ERA in 23 starts between the White Sox and Red Sox. He was 0-1 in three postseason starts, and figures to be Boston's fourth or fifth starter in 2014.
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