With David Ortiz out of the lineup for Opening Day, many Red Sox fans have braced themselves for an indefinite layoff. But Ortiz appears ready to start the comeback clock again.
Ortiz is optimistic about returning to the team within three weeks, he told reporters Wednesday, with manager John Farrell saying Ortiz is scheduled to play extended spring training games as soon as Monday.
Ortiz will look to get a couple of dozen at-bats in Triple A before rejoining the Red Sox. If he plays in the Pawtucket Red Sox’ first game April 11, he could be back with the team by Boston’s April 19-21 series against the Royals, the Boston Herald reports.
“When that rehab assignment begins remains to be seen,” Farrell said, “but we’re still hopeful of a target time frame of the third week of April.”
Ortiz is coming back from complications from an Achilles tear. He says he has fully recovered from that injury, which happened last summer, but he experienced discomfort in his heels during spring training.
