Making surprising progress, Nelson may return soon

TORONTO -- When Chris Nelson strained his right hamstring on Aug. 28, his season was all but guaranteed to be over. Only four and a half weeks remained, and the injury was the same one that cost Peter Bourjos nearly six weeks on the shelf.

Now it looks like Nelson could be activated from the disabled list next week. He's fielding ground balls at third base, taking batting practice, can take part in agility drills and -- with Luis Jimenez still nursing soreness in his shoulders and thumbs -- only needs to run full speed before making his way back to the lineup.

It's the perfect case study in the unpredictability of the hamstring.

"It's a great bounce-back for him," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Hamstrings, like we say, have a mind of their own. You never know. You get some, they last for two months. You get some that look like they're going to be two months, and they're three weeks.

"He still has some work to do, might be about a week, but considering when he did it, you could've been looking at the whole season. He looks like he'll be in the earlier window of what a hamstring can be."