Jacoby Ellsbury, the Red Sox outfielder who has played just nine games in 2010 and been on the disabled list since May 28 with fractured ribs, is (finally) beginning his trip from recovery work in Fort Myers to playing baseball in Boston.
Ellsbury is expected to start his rehab games this week, with games Monday and Tuesday for the Gulf Coast League Red Sox. Assuming that goes well, he will then play for Pawtucket later this week.
Terry Francona took time on Sunday to praise the team's walking wounded, Ellsbury included.
"There's so much reported and so much time spent on Jacoby, I don't think people realize how extraordinary what we have going here is. You don't see this." Francona said. "I've been a lot of places. You don't see guys standing around the cage in a chair. You don't see guys on crutches trying to play. It doesn't happen This is an extraordinary group right now."