KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Omar Infante, recovering from a left groin strain, said he felt much better Wednesday night, and estimated his groin felt about 60 percent healthy.
On Tuesday, Infante took batting practice, fielded groundballs and ran, including side-to-side movements. He replicated the process Wednesday, but with more intensity, he said. Manager Ned Yost said Infante was available in an emergency on Wednesday night.
"He could probably play today, but I don't want to push him this early," Yost said.
MADSON BUILDING ARM STRENGTH
After nearly four years out of the major leagues, Ryan Madson, who pitched in games both Sunday and Monday, is trying to build his arm strength for a full season out of the bullpen.
Since he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2012, Madson said he had not thrown on consecutive days until this weekend. He said his arm didn't feel great Tuesday but that it felt "about 80 percent" better Wednesday afternoon.
Madson compared this season to his rookie season in 2004 with Philadelphia because he had spent so much time away from the game (he hadn't pitched since 2011) prior to this season. Madson also said he wasn't sure if his arm strength would grow steadily, plateau at a point or dip down the line.
Yost said the Royals would monitor Madson's workload, but not differently than they do other pitchers.
"Ryan hasn't been through the grind of a major league season in a couple of years, so we're making sure that we don't overdo him, as we do Wade (Davis) and Kelvin (Herrera)," Yost said. "We try to pay attention to these guys' workload early."
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