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Youkilis May Return To Lineup Soon

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The Associated Press

Published: March 22, 2009

FORT MYERS - Kevin Youkilis could rejoin the Boston Red Sox lineup Monday after giving his sprained left ankle more time to lead.

The first baseman returned to the Red Sox on Wednesday from the World Baseball Classic with a mild sprain and mild Achilles' tendinitis in his left foot. He had been wearing a hard plastic boot, then was examined Saturday by team physician Peter Asnis and took batting practice while wearing running shoes.

"He can maybe get a couple of at-bats on Monday," Manager Terry Francona before his team's game against the Marlins in Jupiter. "We certainly don't want this to linger."

Youkilis said the foot is better and that batting practice did not bother him.

"It felt good," he said. "It felt awkward just for the fact that I've been wearing a boot for two days. So the feeling of not having a boot on was weird. So other than that, I think it was more just the normal feeling of putting a shoe on again, and just walking around. But nothing bad. We'll test it out today, taking ground balls and all that."

ASTROS: Third baseman Aaron Boone will have open-heart surgery Thursday at the Stanford University Medical Center. D. Craig Miller will perform the procedure to correct a problem with Boone's aorta and aortic valve.

ATHLETICS: Eric Chavez has been cleared to take batting practice for the first time in nearly two weeks.

The third baseman, rehabbing from shoulder surgery, was tested Saturday using pulleys and swinging a bat without a ball. Chavez had not swung a bat since a setback on March 8.

CUBS: Corey Koskie has called off his comeback, two days after taking himself out of a game because he felt lightheaded.

The 35-year-old third baseman, who spent the first seven of nine big-league seasons with the Twins, has been at spring training with the Cubs as a non-roster player. He played in three games, going 1-for-5 with a double.

Koskie also was on Canada's roster for the World Baseball Classic.

ORIOLES: Left-hander John Parrish will return to Baltimore for exploratory arthroscopic procedure on his sore pitching shoulder.

PIRATES: With another sharp outing, Paul Maholm extended his scoreless streak to 152/3 innings and strengthened his bid to become the team's Opening Day starter after Pittsburgh's 6-5 win against Cincinnati.

YANKEES: Right-hander Phil Hughes was one of four players optioned to the minors.

Hughes and pitchers Steven Jackson and Anthony Claggett were optioned to Triple-A Scranton-Wikes/Barre. Reliever Humberto Sanchez was optioned to Double-A Trenton, while right-handers Jason Johnson and Sergio Mitre were reassigned to the minor-league camp.

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