“My plan is to try and get in the best shape that I can, because that way I’m not closing any doors,” said Delgado, regarding his belief that if able to return, he will still want to play first base in the majors. “If right off the bat I say I’m going to be a DH, I’m closing 16 doors (in the NL). My plan is I’m going to be ready to play as much as I can both on the field and at the plate.”
Delgado’s familiar voice comes down the phone line from his home on the north shore of Puerto Rico and, despite three daunting hip surgeries that restricted him to just 13 triple-A at bats at Pawtucket in 2010, he believes a comeback can be accomplished. As he grinds out his daily rehab, regaining lost mobility, flexibility and strength, major-league GMs should not be surprised if at some point in April, they receive a call from agent David Sloane to arrange for an open workout for a pedigreed 38-year-old looking for work. He claims to be 10 pounds lighter than his playing weight.
“It’s sort of a sensitive issue because you don’t want to call a bunch of teams and tell them, ‘Oh, I have a client that wants to play, blah-blah-blah.’ You don’t want to say, ‘Well, we’re going to be ready in six weeks, eight weeks.’ It’s a fine line, because you don’t want to tell people ‘I’m ready,’ then go out and embarrass yourself and don’t get a job, anyway. We’re getting closer.”
“Actually, I’ve been hitting for a couple of weeks now, been doing a little bit more running lately, which is all good. Now things are going to get a little bit more dynamic, with change of direction and stuff. Is it going quick enough? Obviously not. As athletes, we want things done yesterday. It is frustrating you have to wait that long, but when you go in for surgery, doctors say it’s going to be three-and-a-half to six months. It’s been almost four months. We’re on track. We just want it sooner.”
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