Jacoby Ellsbury “Very Confident” on Returning This Season

Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury met with the masses yesterday. It was his first such meeting since September 5, the last time he played in a game. Ellsbury has been out due to a fracture in his right foot. Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe was on hand and provides a transcript of the four-minute event. Here’s the portions where Ellsbury mentions his return.

"How confident are you that you will be back for the playoffs? “Very confident. Everybody’s excited. The docs are just happy with my progress.”Do you expect to return during the regular season? “You know, we’re hopeful that I’ll be back playing. I feel very confident I’m making quick progress.”Can you come back for the regular season? “Just following the doc’s orders on what he has in store for me. Each day I come in and try to push the envelope even with them trying to get back on the field.”"

Thrilling stuff. Maybe because it’s in print.

When asked about details of his rehab, Ellsbury said he didn’t want to “get into details”. He only stated that the doctors have him set to a daily plan and he needs to complete that plan. He added that he’s being told by the staff to slow down and it takes time. Teammates that have suffered this injury have missed time, but Ellsbury “wanted to play” even though he knew something was amiss. It had been reported that Ellsbury played in as many as seven additional games before something was said.

Abraham adds that Ellsbury was not in a walking boot as he walked away from the gathering.

Ellsbury played in only 74 games last year and has been on the field for 131 of Boston’s 153 games this season, In 2011, he played in 158 games and finished second to Detroit’s Justin Verlander for the 2011 AL MVP.