There was a big difference between Jose Contreras’ bullpen session Monday and his last start that prompted the White Sox to place him on the disabled list two weeks ago.
Contreras threw all of his 50 pitches overhand and with the power and sharpness that highlighted his resurrection after a brutal 2007 season. Pitching coach Don Cooper and bullpen coach Juan Nieves closely observed Contreras throwing hard without any discomfort.
Contreras is scheduled for at least one minor league rehabilitation assignment Sunday before he rejoins the Sox’s rotation. But his stint on the disabled list could serve as a breather that invigorates him once he’s activated.
“That was the best thing that can happen to me, physically and mentally, to come back and do what I need to do,” Contreras said. “I feel very strong right now. So coming back from that injury and the way I felt, it was unbelievable.”
“The ball out of his hand had life,” Cooper said. “Everything was thrown from the upper angle, and everything was good.
He took his arm out for a test run. The next one is the full boat.”
Injury updates
Third baseman Joe Crede felt no discomfort in his lower back after taking batting practice for the second consecutive day.
Crede hopes to return as strong as he did after breaking a finger in August 2005. He came back to hit .371 with six home runs in his final 19 games
“I just want to get back on the field,” said Crede, who is eligible to come off the DL on Aug. 6. “It’s better to take a step back now. We have more than two months left to finish strong and get into the playoffs.”
Reliever Scott Linebrink, sidelined with tightness behind his right shoulder, is aiming for a mid-August return. He ran lightly and hopes to play catch this weekend.
“We’ve already pretty much wasted a week in July,” Linebrink said. “So the middle of August will be a good three weeks, and, hopefully, it’s not too much longer.”
