Adrian Gonzalez will make his Spring Training debut on Saturday afternoon when the Boston Red Sox take on the Florida Marlins, according to an ESPN report.
Gonzalez originally stated in December that, as long as he was playing in Spring Training game by March 20th, he would be ready for opening day. Gonzalez hit off a tee on Thursday and took batting practice on Friday, after which he told Red Sox manager Terry Francona that he was ready to play in a game.
"He'll have a couple at-bats today, take tomorrow off, then have a couple more AB's the next day,'' said Francona. That would place Gonzalez in the Sox lineup for Monday night's nationally televised exhibition against the Yankees (ESPN, 7 p.m.).
"It's another step forward for him,'' Francona said. "He's worked hard. The fact that he's already ready is testament to how hard he worked. We'll get him in, get him out.'' (via ESPN Boston)
Gonzalez hit .298 with 31 home runs and 101 RBI in 2010. In his seven year career, Gonzalez has a batting average of .284 with 168 career home runs and 525 RBI.