FORT MYERS, Fla. – Shortstop Stephen Drew, who was hit in the helmet by a pitch from Twins left-hander Caleb Thielbar in the fourth inning on Thursday, is out of the lineup again Saturday after experiencing mild concussion symptoms.
 
“He’s improved over yesterday,” said manager John Farrell. “He went through some bike test today, where you get him to exert the heart rate to see if it creates any more of the concussion symptoms. While there were some at the very end, the last sprint he did on the bike, he’s definitely improved over a day ago. So what this means going forward, obviously he’s day to day. But the improvement is very encouraging.”
 
Drew, who said he has never experienced a concussion from baseball before, stayed in the game until the sixth inning, when Jonathan Diaz replaced him in the field. Drew said he is feeling better.
 
“The other day, got hit in the helmet, just squared me up really good,” he said. “Going through the game had no symptoms. Played I think two or three more innings after that. And then went home, watching TV, icing my foot, started getting a headache. And that’s sort of the symptoms already coming on, which was probably four hours after that.
 
“So, with that said, had a headache. Was trying to do some reading, some kind of slight blurriness came in the next day. The trainers came in and treated it as a slight concussion. That’s where we’re at now. Kind of letting it lay low. I feel a lot better today than I did yesterday. Have more energy, not as tired. So, as of now, that’s where I’m at.”
 
Despite getting hit in the head, Drew looks at it as just another spring training HBP.
 
“It’s just one of those things,” he said. “I know the pitcher didn’t, he’s trying to throw a two-seamer in and it got away from him. I was trying to get out the way. By that time it was too late and it squared me up pretty good. As you can tell in the video, or whatever, you’re in the stands, it kind of didn’t even faze me. At the end when I went home that’s kind of when the symptoms came on.”
 
Drew was reminded by a reporter that years ago batters didn’t wear helmets.
 
“I’ll tell you what,” Drew said, with a laugh. “I’m glad I didn’t play in that era.”