Ryan Howard likely to start rehab assignment next week, says General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. - MLB
Finally, first baseman Ryan Howard reaches the point from where he can fancy playing in a rehab game and then from there all the way to the Major League. Struck by an injury on left Achilles in October, he has yet to play for the Philadelphia Phillies in
the 2012 season.
He has been appearing in simulated games in Clearwater and is facing at-bats there, in an attempt to get to the rehab assignments at the earliest.
Both Howard and the General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. are confident that rehab expedition is not far and somewhere around next week or so he will be playing there.
"He's getting a little bit better and stronger," Amaro said. "He's getting a lot of at-bats in simulated games and such. That's a good sign. He's starting to move around the bases a little bit better each day. Once we get him to as close to 100 percent on
the bases as we can get him, we'll probably start an actual official rehab on him."
As far as performance in Clearwater and work-outs he had there is concerned, Howard has shown great improvements, both in terms of making the most of his at-bats and passing through the bases.
While he may have been terrific in simulated sessions, rehab games will be the real test for him.
Playing through the game and not just on plate but also showing equal amount of concentration on the field for making plays will not be easy.
Those games will become the best parameter to judge as to where Howard stands at the moment. Ideally, Howard will like to unleash hit-rampage and show control defensively. If he can manage this there, Phillies will love to put him in the line-up right away.
Many doubt Howard will not be as prolific as he has been for the last couple of years, on his return. Therefore, to vindicate the point that he still has all the power to deliver, he will be taking rehab assignments as an opportunity to assert what he aims
to be.
The fact Phillies struggle to make their mark in the season, getting him back in top-notch form will be a dream scenario for them.
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