WASHINGTON -- Jonathan Papelbon had not pitched in the Minors since 2005 before he began his Minor League rehab assignment on Monday night, as he works his way back from the disabled list.
Papelbon started the game for Class A Advanced Potomac and needed just 11 pitches (eight strikes) to toss a perfect first inning with a strikeout. Before the end of the Nationals' 11-4 victory against the Mets, he was back at Nationals Park and sitting in the dugout.
"Ball was coming out good, legs were underneath me and I feel ready," he said.
Papelbon, who is recovering from a right intercostal strain, said he would likely throw a simulated game on Wednesday.
"I don't see why I shouldn't be ready to go after that," Papelbon said.
But the Nationals are normally cautious with players coming back from injury and might not want to rush Papelbon back. Earlier in the day Monday, manager Dusty Baker said Papelbon's sharpness will be a factor.
"He'll probably want to come back sooner rather than later, but I would choose to have him come back when all of us feel he's ready sharpness-wise," Baker said. "It's been killing him to be sitting in the dugout while we're losing, but we have to put that aside and think about what's best for him and what's best for us in the long run."