Buster Posey feeling healthy at last, power stroke returning
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Buster Posey caught a pair of bullpens on Day 1 and his body recovered beautifully.
Sure, that’s hardly his full workload or even close to comparable to a long regular season of travel and quick turnarounds.
But Posey can certainly relish how reassuring it is to finally feel like himself again following a winter without rehabbing. A year ago when spring training began, San Francisco’s veteran catcher was still recovering from right hip surgery.
He can already sense a significant difference in his swing both in the cage and during on-field batting practice, and he clobbered several balls Thursday under the desert sun at Scottsdale Stadium that left spectators marveling.
“I can say it’s night and day right now, from this time last year,” Posey said. “Just able to do everything normal for me at this point. Running was an issue last year. If I were to take a pitch, that quick stop that I would have to make was an issue. So, none of that. I think it’s just time, having some more time to let that thing heal, some of the scar tissue probably to be smoothed out. I’m cautiously optimistic that it’s going to be really helpful.”
The Giants are hopeful their leader is returning to full strength. Posey, who will turn 33 on March 27, has a huge yet unassuming presence just by quietly going about his business. He o ers a soft-spoken “good morning” to each of his teammates as he passes through the sparkling new clubhouse while getting ready for the day.
His hip still bothered him last season. Running, and at times even the smallest of movements, might have caused him some discomfort.
Enough so that “you knew it was there,” Posey said.
“Look, the main thing, too, I’m trying to keep in mind is I caught two pens yesterday. I haven’t started to put in the work behind the plate so that definitely changes things,” Posey said. “Hopefully if we have this conversation in June I’m saying the same thing, ‘Hey, it’s feeling great.’ Getting behind the plate and catching a full game and doing that four out of five days is di erent than coming o of four months of just training in the o season without catching.”