Taveras '100 percent cleared' for baseball activity

JUPITER, Fla. -- John Mozeliak declared top prospect Oscar Taveras "100 percent cleared" for baseball activity on Thursday, though the Cardinals general manager added that running restrictions do still remain in place as Taveras works his way back from ankle surgery.

Taveras, who arrived in Florida well in advance of his required report date, took batting practice and participated in other light workouts with position players on Thursday. He has already tested his surgically-repaired right ankle by running on it, but the Cardinals are going to ease him into certain drills.

With more than six weeks remaining before Opening Day, the organization sees no necessity in pushing the 21-year-old Taveras to do too much, too soon.

"From a running standpoint, we just want to be smart and patient," Mozeliak said. "You will see him pushing himself, but you may see some of the range-type drills in the outfield, some of his might be shortened. We don't open tomorrow, so there's no reason to push him as if we were. We have six weeks, and he needs to take advantage of those six weeks. But where he is physically is very encouraging."

Taveras, who was recently ranked by MLB.com as baseball's third-best prospect, could make a push for an Opening Day roster spot if he were to have a breakout spring.