Red Sox Spring Training Blog: Victorino, Recovering From Thumb Surgery, Willing To Do Whatever Sox Want
FORT MYERS, Fla. (CBS) -- It was a busy Tuesday morning here in Fort Myers where we have sunny skies and temps in the low 80s.
--Shane Victorino arrived and said he was slowly going to ramp up into baseball activities." The Flyin' Hawaiian" had nerve release surgery on his right thumb back in December. He said his goal is to be physically ready to go on opening day.
Victorino didn't seem to care if he batted leadoff or whether he plays center or right field. With Jacoby Ellsbury vacating both center field and the leadoff spot in the lineup, at least one of those duties might fall to Victorino.
--David Ortiz also showed up with son D'Angelo in tow. Papi, who looks to be in great shape, is slated to meet with the media Wednesday.
--Jonny Gomes is also in camp today. He looks different clean-shaven. Victorino said Gomes looked like a freshman in high school.
--A bunch of the position players worked out together. The ball seemed to be jumping off the bat of Gomes and Will Middlebrooks. Grady Sizemore was out there seemingly trying to feel his way back. He hasn't played since 2011 and is hoping to make a comeback from numerous injuries. The positional players hit, took some infield, and finished off by running some sprints.
--I watched Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and John Lackey throw a bullpen Tuesday morning. Lester was throwing his usual heavy ball, but his command was erratic. He even joked about it taking him a bunch of pitches to get it right.
Buchholz was quiet but looked smooth and comfortable. He told me Monday that he feels physically fine after not touching a ball for a month when the season ended.
Lackey was smooth and looked to be throwing with ease. Jake Peavy, who has an injured ring finger on his right throwing hand, did not throw off a bullpen mound, but was working with the group.
--I also watched the bullpen guys throw -- Koji Uehara, Junichi Tazawa, Edward Mujica, and Andrew Miller. Koji and Junichi seemed to be in midseason form.
--I checked with A.J. Pierzynski this morning. He said the ankle he twisted running on Monday was fine.
--Once again, a good crowd was on hand for the two-hour workout. It's the best school vacation these kids will ever have.
Listen to Dan Roche talking with Rich Shertenlieb and Dave Goucher:
Dan Roche From Fort Myers
You can follow Dan on Twitter @RochieWBZ.
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