Major League Baseball

Peavy eager for injury-free season

Published Feb. 24, 2012 5:52 a.m. ET

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Jake Peavy says he is healthy and hopes to make 30 starts for the Chicago White Sox this season.

''I would be highly disappointed if I don't make every start that I'm scheduled to make,'' Peavy said Thursday as White Sox pitchers and catchers reported to spring training.

The 30-year-old Peavy last made more than 30 starts in 2007, when he was 19-6 with a 2.54 ERA and won the Cy Young Award with the San Diego Padres. He last made more than 25 starts in 2008, when he went 10-11 with a 2.85 ERA with San Diego.

He is nearly two years removed from surgery to repair a muscle near his right shoulder. He was limited to 19 games and 111 2/3 innings last season, when he went 7-7 with a 4.92 ERA in a disappointing year both for him and the White Sox (79-83).

He began the 2011 season on the disabled list for his shoulder. In June, he returned to the DL with a right groin strain. He made 18 starts during the season.

Peavy said no one has been more frustrated than him.

''I certainly want to do it for myself, for the fans, for (general manager) Kenny (Williams) getting me over here,'' Peavy said. ''No one feels worse about the injuries I went through than myself. There's nobody who agonized over it more.''

Williams said he expects to see more of the old Peavy.

''I'm anxious for the people of Chicago to see the Jake Peavy that we traded for because he's a special guy and a guy that can be a No. 1 in anybody's rotation when he's healthy,'' Williams said.

With no injuries and no rehabilitation on his schedule during the offseason, Peavy said he had his first normal winter in a couple years. He said Thursday that he checked out ''clean'' and his shoulder looks good. He said he's 10 pounds lighter than he was in 2011.

''I'm really excited to start. Today is a fun day,'' he said.

Peavy was also optimistic about new manager Robin Ventura and the team's chances, despite the loss of left-hander Mark Buehrle to the Miami Marlins along with Ozzie Guillen.

''I'm going to play a role in it,'' Peavy said. ''This is going to have to be a group effort. We're going to have to have some guys bounce back, myself included.''

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