Doug Padilla, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Patient Nate Jones encouraged by progress

GLENDALE, Ariz. -– A glutton for punishment, Nate Jones says he has been watching his teammates’ bullpen sessions this spring, even though it pains him that he is unable participate.

“That’s the little bit of the tough part, because I love throwing bullpens,” Jones said. “It’s a little bit tough that I can’t get on a mound and do it myself, but I know my time is coming. We need to do it one day at a time and check it off and I will eventually get there.”

Now in recovery after Tommy John surgery last summer, Jones is throwing at 120 feet off flat ground. On the days he isn’t doing his flat-ground work, he is participating in soft toss. At some point soon he will advance to 150 feet and only then will he get to progress to bullpen sessions.

By then the team will be getting ready for the regular season. When Jones’ White Sox’s teammates start packing their bags for the long season ahead, Jones will be just halfway through his Arizona stay. He says he probably will remain at extended spring training through May.

Despite the plodding rehab routine, Jones says he is inspired to work hard every day.

“The track record of success (with Tommy John surgery) is what keeps you going,” he said. “They’ve got it down to where they exactly know what to do. It’s encouraging to see it.”

And while progress has been slow to track, Jones does have his teammates to feed off of, especially Jesse Crain, who is a little bit further in his rehab process. Crain isn’t expected to be ready at the start of the season after biceps surgery in 2013, but he is progressing faster than expected as camp closes in on the two-week mark.

“He had to go through what I’m going through with long toss to build up arm strength,” Jones said. “To see him progress to that is pretty awesome because I know I’ll be there at some point.”

There is no telling how effective Jones will be upon his return. If he has set-up man stuff, the White Sox would be thrilled to no end, but what they really need is just a solid contributor during the second half.

And while Jones is only throwing on flat ground now, he says his throws are fairly firm. He estimates he is throwing at about 70 percent of full speed and remains patient with his rehab, even though he gets the urge to push things at times.

“You get out of it what you put into it, so boom, from the first day I’ve been getting after it for that day and just making sure I get through that day healthy and check it off and move to the next,” Jones said. “(But) you can’t get going too quickly, that’s when problems start. You have to let the biology of the healing of the body take over when you’re going through this rehab. They talked about that too, just stay the course and not get too far ahead of myself.”

So Jones continues to take it slow, even though that is the exact opposite trait for somebody that used to throw in the upper 90-mph range. He won’t return at 90 percent or even 99 percent of peak health. He will wait for the proper time.

“I want to come in when I’m healthy and want to be able to do my job and that has to be 100 percent,” he said. “So when you see me I’ll be ready to go.”

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