Grady Sizemore’s status for Opening Day remains uncertain, but Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports that the center fielder could be cleared to make his spring training debut as soon as this weekend.
However, general manager Chris Antonetti stressed that seeing his first game action doesn’t necessarily mean Sizemore will be ready to begin the season on the active roster, saying:
With Grady we’ll have to see how well he progresses, how well his body responds, and how quickly he’s able to build up to that volume. I don’t think it will be very long until he can go play one nine-inning game. It’s a question of how long will it take for him to play five or six consecutive nine-inning games. We want to activate him when he’s ready to contribute on a consistent basis. Now, exactly how many days a week that will be, I’m not quite sure. But I don’t think anyone is looking for Grady to come up and play one or two days a week.”
Sizemore ran the bases Sunday for the first time since undergoing microfracture surgery on his left knee in June and as recently as a few weeks ago the consensus seemed to be that he wouldn’t be ready until mid-April.
