TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Percival 'Definitely' Expects To Be Ready For Season

Tribune file photo by CHRIS URSO

Closer Troy Percival says back surgery has alleviated the pain that sent him to the disabled list several times last season.

ADVERTISEMENT

By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 13, 2009

PORT CHARLOTTE - Troy Percival knew as soon as he woke up from the back surgery he had in early December that something was very different.

"I was like, 'Man, I can feel my toes – they're cold,'" he said. "My feet never got cold before. I'd walk around in the snow and it didn't bother me."

As the relief pitcher reported to Tampa Bay Rays camp today, he felt like as new a man as he can be considering how many miles he already has put on his 39-year-old body. The procedure to relieve pressure on his spine and clean up the damage caused by two herniated discs that had burst left him feeling better than he did at any point last season.

He already has thrown off a mound twice and said he expects to make about six or seven appearances in games during the final few weeks of spring training.

Will he be ready for Opening Day?

"Right now, I don't see any question at all," Percival said. "It's a definite."

His focus over the first three or four weeks of spring training will be getting back in shape. Recovery from surgery has kept him from most types of conditioning exercises and he has to play catch-up there.

"I haven't been able to run – I still can't run," he said. "But I can do everything else. I couldn't do elliptical or bike until about two weeks ago. So I've got to get myself in that kind of shape and I'll be good to go."

However that process plays out, Percival said he expects to be better off than he was throughout a 2008 season marred by leg problems that stemmed from his back issues. And he has no doubt that the repairs that were made will allow him to be more effective on the mound.

"If I can pitch with what I felt like last year, I shouldn't have any problems this year," he said.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT