Associated Press
The Atlanta Braves were thrilled by the arrival of 305-game winner Tom Glavine. He pitched last season for Atlanta, where he started his career, but also spent much of the year on the disabled list.
Glavine had offseason surgery on his left arm to repair a torn flexor tendon. He is expected to be the Braves’ fifth starter this season, tentatively scheduled to make his first regular-season start on April 18.
He reported late while continuing his rehabilitation at home. He expects to start throwing batting practice Thursday and wants to see some game action by the end of next week. He also said he likely would start the season on the disabled list.
“My arm isn’t all the way there yet,” Glavine said. “But I feel pretty good. There is a little cranky stage with my arm, but all in all I’m happy where I am.”
Glavine has won 244 games for the Braves, returning home last year after five seasons with the New York Mets. He was put on the disabled list for the first time in his career in 2008 and had three stints on the DL. Although his surgery was deemed a success, he has some concerns about how his arm will react.
“I don’t know that you can’t have that concern, regardless how successful your surgery was,” Glavine said. “It’s always in the back of your mind that you had surgery. And you wonder if it will be the same.”