Cards confident Taveras will be 100 percent by spring

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Though top prospect Oscar Taveras has still not resumed running, a recent medical checkup by the Cardinals left the organization confident that Taveras will be 100 percent recovered from ankle surgery by the time Spring Training opens.

Taveras had his right ankle examined in St. Louis over the weekend, general manager John Mozeliak said on Monday. Taveras has since returned to the Dominica Republic, where he will remain until mid-January. At that point, he will come back to St. Louis for a follow-up medical exam. Taveras will not participate in winter ball this offseason.

"He hasn't been cleared for running yet, but that's not to say he couldn't be," Mozeliak said. "Right now, it's more important that he continues to gain strength and continues to improve from a balance standpoint. Then he will be cleared."

Taveras is expected to compete for a Major League roster spot in camp in the spring. He was limited to 46 games with Triple-A Memphis last season due to the ankle injury. In August, it was determined that Taveras needed surgery to clean up cartilage and repair ligament damage.

Peter Bourjos also recently traveled to St. Louis for a medical follow-up, after which he was cleared to start swinging. Bourjos, who was acquired by the Cardinals from the Angels in a four-player trade, has been rehabbing from September wrist surgery. Injuries limited the center fielder to 175 at-bats in 2013.