Shortstop Alex Gonzalez participated in games for the first time this spring last week, both times as a designated hitter and both times for two at-bats. He was testing his surgically repaired left knee after missing all of last season.
"Finally, almost a year since my last at-bat," he said. "I'll keep DHing and working hard and doing my rehab, then I'll jump to shortstop. That's what I'm looking forward to -- jumping on the field and helping my team -- play offense, play defense, all of it." Gonzalez no longer wears the thick brace he wore on his knee all last year during rehab, but he had an ice pack wrapped around the knee.
"I feel a little tightness in the muscle, but not on the knee," he said. "I felt tight a little running the bases, but nothing that hurts me. I'll just work to get stronger."
In his first game, on March 4, he went 1-for-2 against the Netherlands national team. He went 1-for-2 again the next day vs. Pittsburgh.
Gonzalez could play in the field as soon as March 10 against the New York Yankees, manager Dusty Baker said.
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