Ryan Howard Takes Batting Practice for First Time Since Rupturing Achilles

Months after rupturing his Achilles tendon while making the final out of the NLDS, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is progressing well through his rehab.  Howard took live batting practice for the first time yesterday, and at the moment it appears the 32-year-old could be ready to rejoin the Phillies sometime in May.

It’s easy to say the end of the Phillies 2011 season was heartbreaking, but that may not do the event justice.  As most everyone’s favorite to win the World Series, you would think that being eliminated from the first round of the playoffs was bad enough.  However, while making the last out of his club’s 2011 season, Phillies All-Star first baseman Ryan Howard ruptured his Achilles tendon.

While it was initially uncertain when Howard would be able to return to the Phillies, it has been expected from day one that he’d miss the start of the 2012 regular season.  Recent timeframes have May as the slugger’s ETA, but Howard said yesterday that he’s “not going to put a time limit” on his recovery.

Howard noted that it is his goal to “get out there as soon as possible”, but that he is going to listen to his body through the rehab process and take things one step at a time.  Howard added that he feels good but that there “is still a lot of strengthening that needs to take place”.

Before yesterday, Howard had been able to participate in some baseball related activities such as taking ground balls and doing baseball-type movements.  Howard took a big step Wednesday when he participated in live batting practice for the first time since his injury.

In Howard’s absence, the Phillies figure to rely on offseason acquisitions Ty Wigginton and Jim Thome to man first base.

For more on the Phillies, be sure to check out That Balls Outta Here.

You can follow Call to the Pen on Twitter at @FSCalltothePen or like us here on Facebook.