FORT MYERS, FL -- Adalberto Mondesi was energized by the trade which sent him from the Kansas City Royals to the Red Sox last month.
Though the Royals were the only organization for which he's ever played, having signed with them as an international free agent in 2011, Mondesi believed the deal could represent a fresh start for his career.
"Happy,'' said Mondesi, when asked his reaction upon hearing the news. "I know it's going to be something different for me and my life and my career. But I was happy for a new challenge and a different team. I was a little bit (surprised), but there was a part of it that saw it coming. So it's OK. Good for them, and good for me and another chance.
"I'm not taking anything away from the Royals, but when you get here, you can feel the winning. This is a winning team and they create an environment around that. That's a lot different (than what I was used to in Kansas City).''
But for now, Mondesi isn't cleared to be a full participant in camp. He underwent surgery to repair a torn left ACL last May and doctors prescribed a 9-12 month recovery timetable.
"Everything's good, everything is headed the right way,'' he said. "I'm just doing my (rehab) program and every day, I try to feel better. I'm at about 70 percent right now. My running is getting better. There's a lot of things that need to be normal. But we've already started running and after that, we'll see it goes. I'd like for everything to go quicker, but after what they (projected for recovery time), I feel like I'm in a pretty good spot.
"I wish I could wake up tomorrow and everything would be normal. It's been a long process. Every day, I try to push a little more.''
The Red Sox are making sure that Mondesi doesn't try to do too much, too soon and have hinted that he might not be ready for Opening Day. But while the Sox are being cautious, Mondesi isn't ruling out March 30.
"My mindset right now is to be ready for Opening Day,'' he said. "Everything I'm doing is for that. There's a lot of progressions from Day 1, so I'm hoping everything goes the right way. They say there's a chance to ready for Opening Day, so I'm just working toward that. If it's sooner, better.''
Injuries have been a big impediment for Mondesi since he made his major league debut in the 2015 World Series. Only once in parts of seven seasons has he amassed more than 100 games played in a single season. Some of that has been performance-related, but much of it has been because of a succession of physical setbacks.
"It's tough,'' he acknowledged. "But like I always say, that's God's plan and I can only handle what I can handle. Whenever I have the chance, I'm just going to go out and play hard.''
Mondesi said he hasn't had much discussion with the Red Sox about what his role will be.
"Nothing like that,'' he said. "The first thing they said was work, get healthy and from there, we'll see what happens.''
Still, it seems likely that Mondesi will eventually serve as the primary backup to both Kiké Hernandez at shortstop and Christian Arroyo at second. He's also a capable outfielder, though it's in the infield where Mondesi has earned his reputation as a standout defender.
But Mondesi's real strength is his speed and base-stealing ability. From 2018-2020, he averaged 33 steals per year and possesses plus-plus speed. He admitted that soon after his injury last April, he worried whether he would fully regain his speed.
"At the beginning,'' he said, "it was getting on my mind a little bit, yes. But then I started running and I felt normal. I know when I'm 100 percent, it should be normal. I should be (back to) normal speed.''
The new rules -- larger bases, slightly shorter distances between the bases and a limit on the number of times a pitcher can throw over to first to keep a baserunner close -- should benefit Mondesi greatly. The Red Sox don't have anyone else who is a legitimate base-stealing threat, so he could fill that void and earn himself a bigger role on the roster.
"That's part of my game, that's the (best) thing I can do,'' he said. "I love running. I know when I'm 100 percent, I'll be able to do all my normal things.''
The elimination of infield shifts could also benefit Mondesi in multiple ways. In the field, his speed and range should become even more valuable. And at the plate, as a switch hitter, he could benefit with more hits to the right side.
"It should help me,'' said Mondesi.
Mondesi also knows that he needs to be a better offensive performer. He once slugged nearly .500 in one of his best seasons with the Royals and has the pop to drive the ball for extra bases.
"I just have to do the right work,'' he said. "I need to look at video, and not just any random work, but just work on what I need.''
It would help if he became more selective, as his career on-base percentage of .280 suggests.
But first and foremost, he needs to be -- for a change -- healthy.