THE COMEBACK KIDS

[Angels]

In November of last year, I made a deal to get SS Roman Quinn. It was a risk: Quinn was a talented prospect but had been injured for the last half of the ’13 season, and news had just come down that he’d ruptured his Achilles tendon and would require surgery and a long disabled stint. A blown Achilles is never good….even less so for a guy whose game is built around speed. But things progressed well during the off-season, and Quinn worked hard to get back. (And least, according to his Twitter.)

After a short stint in EST, Quinn debuted for the Phillies’ A+ team earlier this week. In his first game, he was hit by a pitch and went 0-for-4 with a K…but he also stole a base—a good sign to see. He’s hitting .286 (4-for-14) in his first three games back, and reports say that Quinn is moving like the player he once was.

Here’s hoping those reports are right.

Besides Quinn, there’s another buy-low player who’s back on the field for me. After hitting .280 and stealing 32 bases in 2012, toolsy OF Rymer Liriano became one of the few non-pitchers to need Tommy John Surgery. He missed all of 2013 but finally seems to be back in full health.

Playing for the first time in more than year, he predictably struggled out of the gate, when April saw him bat only .220. Since then, he’s mashed 7 homers—including his first career grand slam, off Luke Jackson—and a .347 batting average. And the player who is said to have the best outfield arm in the Padres’ system is again throwing darts from right field. For the season, Liriano is hitting .276/.350/.534 with 10 homers and 28 RBIs at AA. (His career high in homers, to this point, has been 12.)

Now…if they can just stay healthy. I’m keeping the trainer on speed dial.