Liriano on recovery schedule

[Outdoors Junkie]

Left-hander making strides in rehab from Tommy John surgery
By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com


MINNEAPOLIS -- With so many question marking this offseason and plenty of young arms competing for spots, it's nearly impossible to predict exactly who will be in the Twins' rotation next season.
But the best news for the club this October is the reassurance that one pitcher will likely be a factor in that race -- left-hander Francisco Liriano.

Twins general manager Bill Smith said Thursday that Liriano is currently on schedule to be ready for Spring Training.

"He's making great and steady progress," said Smith, who took over for Terry Ryan on Sept. 13. "I don't want to get out ahead of ourselves, because he's got a long way to go. But, the best news is that he has not had any regressions."

Liriano, who turns 24 on Oct. 26, has been back throwing lightly off the mound at the club's Minor League complex in Fort Myers, Fla. for nearly a month. He's been throwing mostly fastballs and changeups, but he has also now started to mix in a few easy sliders as well. He's also getting closer to facing hitters in batting practice, expected to take place in early November.

It was just last November that Liriano underwent Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on his left elbow. At the time it was a big setback for a Twins club that already was suffering the loss of Brad Radke and then lost its 2006 Rookie of the Year candidate. Liriano was 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA during that '06 season, before being sidelined with the elbow troubles.

Now the club will not only be getting a pitcher whose elbow is fully healthy, but one who has improved his overall physical fitness.

Now weighing 220 pounds and having added nearly 19 pounds to his 6-foot-2 frame, Liriano is expected to be stronger next season.

In addition to keeping Liriano on schedule with the rehab plan, the club has also been working with Liriano to try and make his delivery a little less violent. So far things seem to be going according to plan, which is nothing but good news for the club.

"This is a very strict program and we've been following it to the letter," Smith said. "And so has he. Francisco has been a tremendous player in this thing.

"It's a long, slow, frustrating process for the player. And he's been great. He's stayed at it."