Shoulder better, Guyer getting to inside pitches

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Brandon Guyer is ready to get his career back on track.

The 27-year-old came to the Rays in the Matt Garza trade prior to the 2011 season. The right-handed-hitting outfielder missed the last four months of last season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder on May 31. He now has seven anchors in his shoulder.

Guyer did not make any excuses about how much better he might have played had his shoulder felt better. Instead, he noted that his shoulder "has felt good" over the past three seasons. However, Guyer did allow that his shoulder feels better now than it has since he dislocated it while sliding into home playing for the University of Virginia. The injury came two days prior to the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, when the Cubs selected him in the fifth round.

Guyer said having a healthy shoulder has enabled him to have more extension when swinging the bat, particularly on inside pitches.

Though Guyer missed most of last season, he did manage to serve a three-game stint with the Rays in May. His lone hit was a solo shot off Brian Matusz in a 5-3 loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards. Two of his three career home runs have come in Baltimore. He also played 22 games at Triple-A Durham, posting a .294 average with three home runs and 13 RBIs.