FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox outfielder Ryan Kalish on Wednesday threw for the first time this spring.
Kalish, who had offseason surgeries on his neck and left shoulder that will leave him unavailable until June, made about 30 throws from about 45 feet, as the recovery process continues.
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“It was great. It felt good,” Kalish said. “My shoulder is still surgically repaired, I’m still getting used to everything. It’s been six or seven months since I threw a baseball. It was very simple, nothing crazy. It’ll be cool when I can play again.”
Manager Bobby Valentine was pleased.
“He looks pretty healthy,” Valentine said. “Of course, you have to see how guys, once they start into activities, how they feel later with them. He was bouncing around. He’s a pretty good-looking athlete. That’s about where we are right now, I think. He’s not hurt. And he seems to be recovered pretty nicely, maybe not 100 percent, but pretty nicely.”
Two years ago, Kalish was one of Boston’s top prospects — a Red Sox outfielder prized for his speed, strong arm, and power at the plate.
Then, a splashy big league debut in 2010 — going 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in a 5-4 win over the Tigers — only fueled hopes. He ended that season, appearing in 53 games, batting .252 with four home runs and 24 RBIs.
And he also played all three outfield positions along the way.
Since then, though, it’s been a tough road. A shoulder injury last April sidelined him most of the season. Kalish appeared in just 24 games in 2011, 22 with Triple-A Pawtucket and two on a rehab assignment with Single-A Lowell. More importantly, none for the Red Sox.
And while that return to Fenway Park still seems a ways off, at least there’s been some progress here.
As for the next step? Swinging a bat.
”I have no idea on that,” he said. “Obviously, that’ll be cool, too. But we’re taking our time with this. It’s something that needs to be taken slow. So, we’ll do that.”
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