Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Keppinger working to regain throwing strength

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- After undergoing a debridement of his right shoulder Sept. 27 at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Jeff Keppinger was expected to recover in two to three months and be ready for Spring Training.

Keppinger, 33, is in camp and going through regular workouts, but he also is strengthening his arm through a throwing program at the same time.

"I'm still sort of rehabbing," Keppinger said. "It was tight. Real tight. I'm still in the process of getting it all loosened up and being able to do everything fully."

"I've noticed his throws aren't as strong as you'd think," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "So we're slowing him down to make sure he doesn't reinjure or do something where he would have to skip a few days because of his arm. 

"So, slowing that down and giving him a little time to catch back up."

Keppinger, who is under contract for two years at $8.5 million total, hasn't given much thought to the third-base battle with Matt Davidson, Marcus Semien and Conor Gillaspie. Keppinger is simply trying to get his arm better.

"It was super tight. But over the last few months, it has loosened up a lot," Keppinger said. "It's definitely coming along. I know the first couple of times I threw, I wasn't throwing much farther than 30 feet. I'm at about 120 feet now. I'm getting there. It's just slow."

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin.
Read More: Chicago White Sox, Jeff Keppinger