Nolan Reimold returned to Baltimore on Jan. 10 and underwent X-rays on his neck that showed the bone was fused. He continues to work out and is full-go for spring training.
"I don't have any restrictions," he said. "I can do what I need to do. And that's pretty much the last update. I can do what I want.
"Pretty much when the bone was fused, (the physician) said I didn't have any restrictions. I guess it's kind of a comfort level with me, diving or whatever. I don't expect to be hesitant or anything like that. I guess it's getting comfortable with my new neck out there, my new Terminator neck out there.
"To be honest, I hadn't really followed too closely his weight limit for lifting weights, because I felt I was way ahead of schedule. Like, I'm not 65 and in bad health. I felt really good. He gave me the OK to go. I threw up a bunch more weight on my back, did some squats, felt good, so I just keep progressing, things like that. Swung a bat. Feels good. Throwing the ball feels fine. All that's good."
Reimold didn't play after April last year. Asked if anyone is more eager than him to get back on the field, he replied, "I don't think so."
"I don't think anyone's been away from the game as long as I've been," he said. "I wouldn't say 'off.' I wanted to be there and couldn't be there. It was a long road to get back to where I am right now. I'm definitely ready to get back to baseball.
"I want to make sure everything goes correctly, progressing to full-go baseball spring training type all-day activities. But I don't see a reason why I won't be ready to go. I'm just looking forward to being out there.
Reimold will compete for playing time in left field and as the designated hitter.
"I guess it's cliched, but it's the coach's decision," he said. "I'll show up ready to go with whatever (manager Buck Showalter) wants, whether it be left field, get at-bats wherever. I'll be ready to play baseball."
Reimold will report to spring training early and work with hitting coach Jim Presley.
"I'll be hitting outside then," he said. "Presley told me he's down in Florida and he'll drive up and hit with me outside a little bit, too."
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