D-backs’ Drew: Spring training starts now

Diamondbacks shortstop Stephen Drew played in an extended
spring game Thursday, his first game action since
suffering a season-ending ankle injury on July 20.

“Overall, it was good,” he said. “It was good to be back
out there.”

Drew started the game on defense, turning a double play to
end the first inning.

Then, after the fifth hitter of the game, Drew grabbed his
bat and put his helmet on. He struck out in his first
plate appearance before singling through the right side.
In his next two at-bats, he grounded out to second and
flied out to left before calling it a day after two
innings.

Drew had seen live pitching before, but this was the first
time he’s run — albeit, lightly — out of the batter’s
box and reacted to foul balls both at the plate and in the
field.

“The foul ball, [the ankle] felt normal,” he said. “It
definitely is a little different when you haven’t done it
in nine months.”

Drew continues to make good progress, but he has not yet
run the bases in a game situation (he was pulled for a
pinch-runner after the single).

“The trainers have been good. It’s kind of like my spring
training now, go through this process and figure out
what’s next.

“I wish I could tell you guys I have a timetable,” Drew
continued. “Every day it’s gotten better. Six weeks ago
when I started spring training I couldn’t do the stuff I
can do now. That’s the way I look at it.

“It’s definitely a slow process but at least I haven’t had
any setbacks.”

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