Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo is one of the few players who has remained in Fort Myers, where he checked in from via a conference call Monday. It is the first time we have heard from Verdugo since spring training was shutdown. Here are some of the highlights from the outfielder, who has been easing way back into baseball activities due to a stress fracture in his back:
- "Whenever the season starts I think I will be ready."
- Verdugo said he has recovered from the stress fracture that slowed his spring training.
"Yeah, physically I'm 100 percent. I feel very good. Just moving around with everything, my swing, my throwing, running, I feel really good. the complex for us shut down for three weeks when the whole coronavirus started coming out so I still stayed active at home. I was hitting, throwing a little bit and working out. Obviously didn't have the amount of resources I do as the facility. When I got back, we just got back in, like last week was our first week back into the complex and yeah, we took it slow again, we just kind of ramped it back up, just seeing how the three weeks, how my body kind of looked and how it felt to my trainers. From there, I feel like we're back on track. We're swinging, people are throwing to me in the cage and then we're taking BP in the cage and just kind of now, it's just, the extra time is just giving me more time to get my endurance up."
- Says got back into JetBlue Park complex last week. Chris Sale has also started showing up to begin his rehab.
- Some of the rumors regarding ways baseball might return seem a little bit extreme. Said some scenarios being away from their families for an extended period of time doesn't seem "logical" to him.
- Notes that beginning without fans would be OK but it is when need "instant feedback" for adrenaline when starts getting worn down is when might come into play.
- Said being traded was initially difficult but now views it as a blessing.
- Has been quarantined in Fort Myers with his best friend.
- Said has been checking in with Ron Roenicke every one or two weeks. The training staff has been sending videos of Verdugo hitting to Roenicke and hitting coach Tim Hyers.
- Said he is training every single day as there is going to be a season.
"I think I'm halfway on it. I see both sides of it. I see both sides of the situation. I see the benefits and I see the cons. I'm not on either side, I'm just right in the middle. The thing I can tell you guys is that no matter what happens I'm training every single day. I'm putting in the work as if there is going to be a season. I'm going to keep preparing and training and keeping my mind sharp so I'm already mentally locked in and physically ready to go for it."
- "That would be pretty crazy. That would be pretty nuts," he said regarding idea that Mookie Betts might not play a game for the Dodgers if there is no season.
