The hurried approach backfired. After he returned to Triple-A Pawtucket for eight games in August, the injury never healed. Kalish was forced to undergo neck surgery — as a result of the shoulder woes — in September and a procedure in November to repair a torn labrum.
The setbacks started last April when Kalish dove for a ball in Pawtucket. Now, exactly 10 weeks removed from his operation in November, the 23-year-old is approaching his upcoming rehabilitation with caution.
"Last year, I was pushing it all the time," Kalish said at a Jimmy Fund event on Saturday. "You learn from that. That's just being young, wanting to go out there and play for everyone. I wanted to be there, so I pushed myself. This year, we're going to take it to the point where I'm totally right so I can help not only myself but the team."
The Red Sox could benefit from his presence. When they traded Josh Reddick to Oakland for Andrew Bailey, it opened up a vacancy in right field. Ryan Sweeney, Mike Aviles and Darnell McDonald will likely split the duties for the foreseeable future.
It's been an excruciating wait for Kalish. The outfielder entered spring training healthy in 2011, but there was no starting opportunity. This time around, he's been relegated to a cheerleader as others contend for an outfield opening.
Kalish maintains he isn't dwelling on the irony.
"It's too hard to look at it like that," Kalish said. "If we play well, we'll get opportunities, so when I get back, if I play well, hopefully, I'll get an opportunity. That's just the way it works. That's what I'm thinking about more than the negative part of it."
Although Kalish remains dedicated to a speedy recovery, he declined to set a timetable for his return. Since the second surgery in November, he has continued his rehabilitation at the team's facility in Fort Myers, where he is focused on developing his strength and flexibility.
At this stage of the process, Kalish said the recovery is on schedule. During a visit to Fort Myers last week, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine observed Kalish's workouts and also came away impressed with his strides.
"Ryan looks like he's coming along nicely," said Valentine, who also reunited with him at the Jimmy Fund event.
It won't be in time for spring training, but Kalish has accepted that reality. After totaling 103 plate appearances in 2011, he is just yearning to regain his health before pondering any other plans.
"I haven't been right since April and it's almost April, so I'm itching," Kalish said. "I know that for the long run the best — for me and for the team — is for me to be 100 percent right and if I don't do that I'm not going to help anybody. It's not that I'm going to take it slow, but I'm going to make sure I'm right for everybody's sake, not just mine."
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