Feb. 23, 2012
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Diamondbacks shortstop Stephen Drew still
has a long way to go in his ankle rehab, but he took a nice step
Thursday by moving laterally while fielding ground balls.
Drew
took grounders Monday at Salt River Fields for the first time since
fracturing his right ankle last July. In that session, though, he didn't
move side to side as he did on Thursday.
"It's coming along
well, a little better than what I thought overall," Drew said. "Lateral
(movement), like everything, is still going to need improvement."
After
taking Wednesday off to recover from workouts Monday and Tuesday, Drew
said he felt more capable during Thursday's session.
"The first
few days were kind of getting into it," Drew said. "Today I felt like I
had a little more hop to my step, which was a good thing. If that
happens every day, it's going to be a good thing."
Drew said it's
still harder to go left, but he's happy to be past the painful part of
the healing process and working to regain strength in the ankle. D-backs
manager Kirk Gibson has been encouraged by Drew's recovery thus far,
but has also been careful to quell overly optimistic expectations.
"He's
far from being able to play in a game," Gibson said. "We half-worried
that he would be really hobbled at this point, but he's worked very
hard. … He's in great shape physically, and his mind is in a good spot.
"We’re encouraged by where he's at, no question."
-- Tyler Lockman
