CLEVELANDDavid Ortiz continued his encouraging recovery trajectory with another day of workouts and positive medical reports at Progressive Field prior to Thursday nights game against the Indians.
Big Papi continues to feel little soreness in his troublesome Achilles after getting a pain-numbing injection, and was running dexterously around orange cones during Indians batting practice without a hint of pain or soreness.
He then did a few quick sprints before switching out of his game cleats and getting ready for a full batting practice session.
Ortiz has been on the disabled list since July 17 with a right Achilles strain, but all signs continue to point toward his activation for Sundays series finale against Cleveland.
Bobby Valentine gave it a maybe for his designated hitters readiness for Sunday, and indicated hed been on schedule if he were to return prior to a series against a Baltimore team that the Sox are chasing in the standings.
Hes good. Yesterday he felt really good. Hes going to do some agility work and see how he feels, said Valentine. He may run the bases tomorrow and then see how he feels afterward. Then well see where he really is. Today is agility plus batting practice and well see.
But yesterday he said there was no stiffness and he said he could do a lot of things.
Boston Red Sox
The 36-year-old Ortiz has been Bostons deadliest bat all season-long with .316.414.609 in 89 games and still leads Boston with 23 home runs and 48 extra base hits despite missing the last two weeks with the foot injury. With Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford, Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez all hitting hot streaks at the same time, the addition of Ortiz by this weekend could really bring some welcomed firepower to a Sox lineup thats gaining steam.