SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Buster Posey has waited 8 12 months to get behind the plate. He won't have to wait much longer.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he plans for Posey to make his Cactus League debut on Friday and catch "a few innings." Second baseman Freddy Sanchez is likely to make his spring debut as the designated hitter, too.
If Posey starts the game, he'd receive Matt Cain. And his first at-bat since May 25 would come against Cincinnati Reds left-hander Aroldis Chapman, who has been clocked at 104 mph.
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Welcome back, kid.
Bochy put Posey on the Friday plan after the cleanup hitter's reconstructed left ankle responded well following a less-than-maximum-effort baserunning session on Tuesday.
"He's fine," Bochy said. "It's not the hitting or the catching. That's no problem. He's been catching 'pens, doing all the drills. It's just getting him running bases. He came out of it well."
Slowly, the Giants are getting their pieces on the field. Sanchez, Posey and Wilson were the three biggest question marks heading into the spring. Posey actually faced Wilson in live batting practice Wednesday morning; perhaps he'll catch the bearded closer when he makes his spring debut on Monday.
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Ryan Vogelsong is going to throw off a mound Thursday for the first time this spring, too. He had been set back by a strained lower back.
Nobody is more integral than Posey, though. And his teammates can't wait to see him on the field again.
"Very eager," Tim Lincecum said. "For us as a team, the biggest day was just seeing Buster in catcher's gear again, participating in practice. Right now I'm sure there's tons of fans who want to see him. ... We want Posey out there just as badly as they do."