DETROIT -- Donnie Veal is happy to be all the way back.
The White Sox left-hander proved it on Friday night when, in his first appearance in the majors since Oct. 4, 2009, he struck out both batters he faced.
Veal spent all of 2009 in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but had two stints on the disabled list that season. Then he had reconstructive elbow surgery in June 2010 and spent a year in Florida with several other pitchers recovering from injuries, including former Pirates starter Kevin Hart.
We were all hurt together for about a year or so, Veal said. It was a grind down there. I wish it upon nobody to be hurt like that. But we got through it and I actually talked to Kevin last night. It was nice to get all the way back.
Veal said he felt healthy late last August after a setback landed him on the DL a month earlier. He finished the season at Single-A Bradenton and had a 2.08 ERA over his final 13 innings. Veal signed with the White Sox in November.
Ive been getting ready for this moment to help the team, Veal said. Im ready to go.