FORT MYERS, Fla. - Just three months after undergoing surgery to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow, Minnesota Twins pitcher Scott Diamond is well on the road to recovery.
The Guelph, Ont., native made his spring training debut Monday, pitching two innings of one-hit, three-strikeout ball against a group of Red Sox minor-leaguers.
He says he couldn't be happier with his first outing.
"I was actually a little nervous 鈥� first time taking the mound 鈥� but it felt smooth," Diamond said. "I was able to keep the ball down for the most part and get ahead of hitters which is my game plan."
He faced seven Red Sox farmhands, throwing 17 of 23 pitches for strikes.
Though he's used to far stiffer competition, having spent last season and some of 2011 in Minnesota, Diamond was proud of what he was able to accomplish Monday.
And with only two weeks left of spring training, the southpaw is confident he'll be able to make his projected start date 鈥� April 12 at Target Field.
"We've monitored everything very closely and it's been a pretty smooth ride," the 26-year-old said. "If everything can continue like it did today, (starting on April 12) isn't going to be a problem."
Though his recovery has been relatively easy, the young pitcher wishes it could have been quicker.
Dubbed a "good Canadian guy," by Twins' first baseman and New Westminster, sa国际传媒, native Justin Morneau, Diamond would have loved to represent his nation alongside his teammate at the World Baseball Classic.
"It was really difficult for me to sit out," Diamond said. "Even before I had the surgery I knew I wouldn't be ready on time so making that phone call to Greg Hamilton (Baseball sa国际传媒's director of national teams) was tough.
"Greg's an unbelievable person and he's built up the national pride in all us players. You see guys like Justin (Morneau) and Joey Votto always so committed to playing and that has a lot to do with him, so any time you can't participate, it's tough."
Diamond pitched three innings for sa国际传媒 in its 6-2 loss to Italy at the 2009 WBC, striking out one and giving up a run on three hits.
Diamond racked up a 3.54 ERA to go with his 12-9 record through 27 starts last season with the Twins.
Morneau, who has watched his fellow Canuck develop into a distinguished major league pitcher over the past two years, knows that with numbers like those, Diamond could have helped sa国际传媒's chances at this year's WBC in Arizona.
"He was a guy that we definitely could have used and he would have played a pretty prominent role in giving us a shot," Morneau said. "When you have a quality major league pitcher out there, it really makes a big difference."
But it wasn't just Diamond's ability that was missed. It was his patriotism too.
"He wears his heart on his sleeve and his country right there with it," Morneau said. "It was unfortunate he couldn't be there with us, but he'll get another opportunity and we'll do better next time."
