Its been an offseason of transition for Daniel Nava. He was married in November and moved from his native northern California to Arizona.Hes recovered from the surgery he had on his left wrist a few days after the season ended to remove a cyst, which cost him two stints and a total of 35 games on the disabled list last season. He was able to resume his normal off-season workouts on his regular schedule.The wrist is fine, Nava said Thursday by phone. I havent had any problems with it. It wasnt an injury that required an extensive rehab. So Ive been able to do my normal workouts.He plans to get to Fort Myers, Fla. in early February, but Nava will again report to spring training with his status unknown.I just try to go into the spring as prepared as I can be, he said.For Nava, who turns 30 on Feb. 22, his story is well-documented: Too small for his high school team, led the West Coast Conference with a .395 average his senior year at Santa Clara University in 2006, undrafted, signed by the Red Sox out of an independent league in 2007, hit a grand slam on the first pitch he saw in the major leagues in 2010.But when he was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket on May 10, it was his first time back with the major league team since the end of the 2010 season. He spent all of 2011 with the PawSox. In 88 games with the Sox last season, he hit .243 with six home runs, 33 RBI, a .352 on-base percentage and .390 slugging percentage. A switch-hitter, he posted stark splits from each side. As a left-handed batter he hit .269 (50-for-186) with a .383 OBP and .414 SLG. As a righty he hit .185 (15-for-81) with a .280 OBP and .333 SLG.While the wrist injury may have had some effect on those numbers, Nava attributes it to inconsistent plate appearances from the right side which caused him to fall into some bad habits. Its something hes worked on this offseason, but nothing compares to big league at-bats.This offseason, the Sox have brought in Jonny Gomes, a right-handed hitter to play left field, along with Shane Victorino, a switch-hitter to play right. Perhaps Navas ability to hit from both sides will give him an advantage for the extra outfielders spot. Nava is hoping his ability in the field will also give him an advantage.He appeared in 76 games, with 66 starts, in left last season, and four games, with two starts in right field. Overall, he appeared in 79 games in the outfield (playing both left and right in one), the second-most on the team behind only Cody Ross 116 outfield games. Nava made two errors with five assists, second on the team to Ross nine. All his assists were from left field, sixth-most in the American League at the position.Nava took some grounders at first base during the season at the urging of former teammate Nick Punto, who went to the Dodgers in the August blockbuster trade. Nava has not been working out at the position this offseason, but would not be averse to it. And with the Sox acquisition of Mike Napoli still in limbo, its not completely out of the question.
Nava will be in Boston later this month to attend the Baseball Writers dinner, where he will receive the both the Comeback Player of the Year Award and the 2012 Lou Gorman Award, which is given to a minor league player who has demonstrated passion, dedication and perseverance in overcoming obstacles while working his way to the major league team.Both awards seem appropriate.