BRADENTON, Fla. — Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett resumed workouts Saturday, eight days after having surgery to repair a fracture in his orbital bone near his right eye.
The injury occurred Feb. 29 as Burnett was hit in the face by a ball while taking part in a bunting drill. He had surgery on March 2 in Pittsburgh and is expected to miss two months.
Saturday was the next step in the recovery process, as he played catch and rode a stationary bike at the Pirates' complex in Bradenton. Afterward, he addressed the media for the first time since the surgery.
"I've got a little catching up to do, but it's good," said Burnett, whose right eye was still bloodshot and surrounded by a bruise. "Everything went well. I'm just happy to be back down here with the guys."
Following an 11-11 season last year in which he posted a 5.15 ERA with the New York Yankees, the 35-year-old Burnett was traded to Pittsburgh on Feb. 19 for two minor-leaguers. It was a chance for a fresh start for Burnett, who had consecutive disappointing seasons in Yankees pinstripes.
But Burnett's fresh start will have to wait.
"I can't look at it and question it now," he said. "I had my day of tears, laying in the hotel room, ‘What just happened?' I'm over all that now. We're in a positive reaction to get back on the field."
Just how soon he'll be back on the field remains to be seen. The initial diagnosis was that Burnett — originally slated to be the Pirates' starter for their April 5 home opener — would be out 8-12 weeks.
"If it takes that long, it takes that long. If it's before that, then hey, I'm game for that, too," Burnett said. "There's not really a timetable. Eight to 12 is realistic, but you never know if something could act up from running or from lifting or swelling and pop out of nowhere. It's mainly how I feel day to day."
Saturday, Burnett played catch, throwing about 50 times.
"The first 10 were a little hairy, I'm not going to lie," he said.
Burnett's freak injury has spurred several online images spoofing the bunt, including pictures of Burnett as a real-life pirate. The 13-year veteran seems to be taking the jokes in stride.
"You know what, I think it's great. If you can't laugh at yourself at certain things, then you've got problems," Burnett said. "I think the pirate logo is hilarious. I got a picture the other day with the kid from the Christmas Story, ‘You'll bunt your eye out.' I've done it and I've heard it all before."
Burnett spent his first seven years in the majors with Florida and hit three home runs while batting .130 in 269 career at-bats. After six years in the American League, Burnett will again have a chance to bat once he returns from his injury.
He just might not bunt any time soon.
"I guess all I can say is power hitters don't bunt. We'll go along with that," Burnett said. "My dad told me to tell (manager Clint Hurdle) that. I told him he liked it. I'm going to stick with that."
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