Ortiz expects to be healthy for 2009

Nov 11, 2008 - 8:41 PM BOSTON (Ticker) -- Following an injury-plagued year and a disappointing postseason exit, David Ortiz expects to have a bounce-back season in 2009.

Ortiz said Tuesday that he has almost fully recovered from a nagging wrist injury that clearly affected the Boston Red Sox slugger throughout this past season.

"I know it's going to feel fine," Ortiz said. "I've been feeling better. I had inflammation at the end of the season and it's going away."

Ortiz revealed that he will start swinging a bat again as early as December after resting for the past month.

"Just like the doctor said, when you start swinging and you take a month, a month and a half without swinging, you'll be fine," Ortiz told reporters at a news conference to promote his charity golf tournament in the Dominican Republic.

Ortiz, who turns 33 next week, missed nearly two months due to a partially torn tendon in his left wrist.

The designated hitter returned to the lineup in late July but struggled at the plate, batting .277 with 10 home runs and 46 RBI in his final 55 games.

Generally regarded as one of baseball's best clutch hitters, Ortiz also slumped in the postseason. He had just eight hits, and only one homer, in 43 at-bats as the Red Sox were defeated by the upstart Tampa Bay Rays in the ALCS.

Ortiz admitted Tuesday that the wrist injury hampered his ability to make contact down the stretch.

"Not only in October, it was happening to me since I got back," he said. "I was missing a lot of pitches that I couldn't believe. I was getting in bad habits swinging and things like that."

Ortiz endured his worst offensive season since joining the Red Sox in 2003, batting .264 with 23 homers and 89 RBI.

Ortiz's lack of production certainly hurt the Red Sox, who traded away fellow slugger Manny Ramirez in July and finished 95-67, two games behind the first-place Rays in the AL East.

After beating the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the ALDS, Boston scored a total of just 28 runs in the seven-game ALCS.

However, Ortiz feels that the Red Sox once again can contend in the increasingly competitive American League.

"I think this team just needs a few guys in the bullpen and another 30-home run guy and we'll be all set," the five-time All-Star said.