Lester is ready to go

When Jon Lester showed up to spring training last year, he was down to 190 pounds after losing a considerable amount of weight during his chemo treatments and cancer recovery.

Though it was an inspiration to have him back in a Red Sox uniform, his fastball lacked its usual pop, and it was clear from the outset that he still had a ways to go in his physical recovery. The Sox put him on a special program to ease him back into the game, and he spent most of the season in the minors.

Lester worked hard to build up his strength over the season, and his efforts were rewarded with a victory in the clinching game of the World Series.

He continued his hard work into the offseason, and he’s now back to his normal weight of 225 pounds, and ready to play some baseball.

Though pitchers and catchers aren’t due at the Red Sox spring training facility until February 14th, Lester is already there, continuing his training, and preparing for the start of the season.

He says that his fastball has finally returned to form, and that should help him considerably. He struggled to get ahead of hitters in 2007, when gave up a walk every two innings. If he can use his revamped fastball to get ahead in the count, his numbers should show significant improvement.

“Last year was uphill for the first half of the season, just trying to get physically back to where I was the year before or even the year before that. This year, I don’t have those hills to overcome.

“I come in at at my normal weight and just go out and pitch. I don’t have to worry about being in a special program or anything like that.”

It’s rare to find a young ballplayer with the drive that Lester has, and the further removed I get from the Santana saga, the happier I am that he wasn’t sent to Minnesota as a trade chip.

Lester is glad to remain in Boston as well.

“I don’t want to leave Boston. It’s a great place. I’m just glad I’m staying here. There’s no other place like it.”

It’ll be nice to have him back.

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