Sizemore ‘forgotten man’ so far this spring

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Grady Sizemore has become a bit of a forgotten ballplayer with the Phillies this spring.

The Phillies made bringing back Sizemore a priority, signing him to a one-year, $2 million contract in mid-October. But the 32-year-old Sizemore hasn’t been getting much time with the regulars in Grapefruit League games. He didn’t play in Wednesday’s 7-1 loss to the Astros, one day after making the trip to Lake Buena Vista only to enter the game against the Braves as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning.

Read more at The News Journal.

Catching up with last year’s big spring training story, Grady Sizemore

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The excitement of spring training is a little different this time around for Grady Sizemore.

The outfielder who showed the Red Sox enough last spring to get an Opening Day start despite not having played major league ball for two years, is now with the Phillies, vying for a job in left field.

A year ago, Sizemore was a topic of conversation every day. Now he sits almost anonymously in the Philadelphia clubhouse, just trying to build off a 2014 campaign which saw the 32-year-old play in a combined 112 games with the Sox and Phils.

“There were moments where you feel like it’s coming back and then there were moments where you kind of feel a little lost,” said Sizemore, who hit .216 with a .612 OPS in 52 games with the Red Sox before being released. “I think it’s more of being away from the game for so long. There were some bright spots and some down spots. Just being able to find that comfort zone where you’re not going through those long stretches where you feel you don’t have it.”

Read the rest at WEEI.

Whoops… so much for the updates

I lied when I said I’d do a news roundup last year. Got a bit busy and, near the end of the season, news and photos became sparse.

Since our last post, Grady was named the Opening Day starter for the Red Sox and started out the season well then inevitably slowed down as the time off started to show. The beginning of June saw his return to Cleveland with the Sox, but sadly the reception from Cleveland fans was pretty much nil. Not long after that series he was designated for assignment, then subsequently outright released, by Boston.

A week later, the Philadelphia Phillies took a chance and signed him to a minor league contract. After just a few weeks at AAA Lehigh Valley, the Phillies purchased his contract and he was back in the MLB, where he remained the rest of the season. Though his early playing time was bountiful, it soon dwindled. As the season neared its end, he was relegated to mostly PH duties due to Philly taking a look at their younger players. Despite this, Grady put up a respectable line of .253/.313/.389/.702 with Philadelphia in his first full season back from missing two from multiple injuries & surgeries. His full 2014 stat line (including Boston and Philly) was .233/.299/.354/.654.

Most importantly, however, Grady got through the entire season unscathed in the health department. Perhaps hoping to catch lightning in a bottle, on October 23rd the Phillies announced that they had signed Grady to a 1-year $2 million MLB contract for the 2015 season.

So, needless to say, 2014 was a busy one for Mr. Sizemore, and not just in the baseball world. Earlier in 2014, Grady wed his longtime girlfriend Brittany. Sorry ladies, there’s a real Mrs. Sizemore now. Congrats to the happy couple!

Sizemore makes spring debut for Sox

Thursday marked the first game action of any kind for Grady Sizemore since September of 2011.  That’s nearly 900 days away from the game for the former Gold-Glove outfielder.  He went hitless in 2 at bats from the leadoff spot, playing 3 innings in left field for the defending champs against the Northeastern University Huskies.  It was a rather uneventful day, which is a good thing for the oft-injured Sizemore.

Check out photos from Thursdays action in our Galleries, and see what Grady had to say about getting back into action below.

 

Boston’s Sizemore back onto the field – Maureen Mullen, Boston.com

Game time for Grady Sizemore – Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe

Grady Sizemore returns to field in Red Sox’ victory over Northeastern – Scott Lauber, Boston Herald

For Sizemore, it seems like old times – Brian MacPherson, Providence Journal

Sizemore downplays Sox debut after two years out of MLB – Sean McAdam, Comcast Sportsnet

Sizemore downplays significance of first game with Red Sox – Ricky Doyle, NESN

 

Sizemore feeling better than expected, prepares for first Spring game on Thursday

Despire originally thinking that he probably wouldn’t be ready for the first spring action on Thursday, on Monday manager John Farrell announced that Grady Sizemore would suit up for the Red Sox in one of two 7-inning split-squad games on Thursday against Boston College and Northeastern.

Sizemore’s body has reacted better than expected to an increased workload, causing the Red Sox medical staff and management to adjust up their timeline for the former All-Star.

“Definitely better than expected,” Sizemore said Tuesday when asked about his health. “I didn’t expect to come in here and have continuous days without any issues and be able to keep pushing it to keep up with the volume and keep going from there.”

 

Grady Sizemore will be in the Red Sox’s lineup for first spring training game on Thursday, swing ‘looks great’ – Jason Mastrodonato, MassLive.com

Grady Sizemore Feeling ‘Definitely Better Than Expected’ At Spring Training – Ricky Doyle, NESN

Sizemore eager to see first game action – Ian Browne, RedSox.com

Sizemore to play in one of two Thursday games – Sean McAdam, Comcast Sportsnet

Grady Sizemore looks good, but can be contribute? – Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe