David Ortiz Responding Favorably to Rest and Treatment, Could Take Batting Practice on Monday

by Ricky Doyle on Fri, Mar 15, 2013 at 6:07PM

David Ortiz‘s Opening Day status is still very much up in the air, but Friday brought some good news regarding the slugger’s health status.

Ortiz, who was shut down for five-to-seven days on Sunday after an MRI revealed inflammation in both of his heels, is responding well to the rest and medication he’s getting.

“Feels better. Symptoms have decreased. So the prescribed down days and the medication are having the effect we’d anticipated,” Red Sox manager John Farrell told reporters on Friday. “Optimistically, we’re looking at hopefully getting him back to taking BP on Monday. That would be at the end of that seven-day period.”

Taking batting practice is the first step in the post-rest recovery stage. Ortiz then has to take part in more baserunning drills, and there is no timetable as to when he’ll begin those.

Ortiz still might not be ready come Opening Day, but at least the big guy is heeling during this period of inactivity.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.