When Pat Neshek went on the disabled list with soreness in the back of his right shoulder during the first week of the season, he was legitimately worried about his condition and concerned that the problem could be serious.
A month of rest, rehab and one of those magic injections of anti-inflammatory medication has erased the worry from Neshek’s mind.
“I feel great,” the 37-year-old reliever said before heading out to the field for a spirited game of catch Thursday. “It’s amazing.”
Neshek, who signed a two-year, $16.25 million contract with the Phillies in December, is set to ramp-up his recovery. He said he would throw a bullpen session on Friday. He is expected to head to Clearwater sometime next week to continue his rehab and is targeting the third week of May as a potential return to big-league action. The Phillies play in Baltimore and St. Louis that week.
Neshek spent four months with the Phillies last season before being traded to Colorado. He was brilliant in his time with the Phils. He pitched 40 1/3 innings and allowed just 28 hits and five runs while striking out 45 and walking five.
Even without Neshek, the bullpen has been an early-season strength for the Phillies. It entered Thursday ranked eighth in the majors in ERA (3.22) and opponents batting average .212.