Ryan Howard

Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com writes that there’s “a growing feeling” that Ryan Howard (Achilles) and Chase Utley (knee) could join the Phillies sometime in June.

Howard’s return is expected to happen sooner and is considered more certain. He recently began taking batting practice in Florida, but it’s not clear when he’ll be ready for game action. Utley is also taking batting practice, but he just started taking ground balls on the infield this week and it’s not clear how his knees will respond to the increased activity. We’ll know something more definitive once they go out on their respective rehab assignments, but getting both players back would be a huge lift for the offensively-challenged Phillies.

Ryan Howard (Achilles) took batting practice Monday for the first time since February.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. classified the news as “progress.” Howard was recently given clearance to ramp up baseball activities at the team’s spring training complex in Clearwater, Florida. It’s not clear when he’ll go out on a minor league rehab assignment, but a return in late May or early June is possible provided there are no setbacks.

Ryan Howard (Achilles) is expected to intensify his workouts this week to include hitting, running and weight training.

Howard is at the Phillies’ spring training complex in Florida. The 32-year-old slugger appears to be progressing nicely and could be ready to join the Phillies in late May or early June if he can avoid any setbacks.

Ryan Howard (Achilles) will head to the Phillies’ spring training complex in Florida on Sunday to continue his rehab.

Howard saw a specialist in Philadelphia on Monday who advised him to limit his activities for a week to allow his surgical wound to heal. And it’s apparently already looking better. The 32-year-old slugger could be ready to join the Phillies in late May or early June if he can avoid further setbacks.

After seeing a specialist Monday, Ryan Howard (Achilles) was advised to “limit his activities” for one more week to allow his wound to heal.

The Phillies were hoping Howard would get clearance Monday to ramp up his baseball activities, but he isn’t quite ready yet. The full statement from Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. read as follows: “After seeing the wound specialist in Philadelphia yesterday, Ryan Howard’s wound has gotten smaller and is healing. We?ve been advised to limit his activities for one more week to allow it to continue to heal. We hope that he will be able to re-start his baseball activities thereafter.”

Updating a previous item, Ryan Howard (Achilles) will visit a specialist on Monday.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. previously said that Howard was going to see a specialist Friday, but that’s apparently not the case. Still, if Howard receives good news Monday, he could be cleared for more baseball activities. Some timetables have placed Howard’s return in late May or early June, but we should know something more definitive pretty soon.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. said that Ryan Howard (Achilles) could be cleared for more baseball activities after seeing a specialist on Friday.

Howard has been limited to strength exercises and some basic on-field work since having stitches removed from an infected area of his surgically-repaired left Achilles tendon in late February. He saw the same specialist earlier this week, but there was not enough progress in healing. The Phillies are hopeful they’ll get different news this time. Howard’s return date is a bit of a moving target at the moment, but late May or early June seems possible.

Ryan Howard (Achilles) saw another specialist Monday, but Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro said they’re “still on hold” as far as when the first baseman can increase his baseball activities.

“The question is when does he start doing stuff so it doesn’t compromise the healing process?” Amaro said. “We’re still on hold as far as that is concerned. Hopefully we’ll know more in the next couple of days.” Howard has been taken off antibiotics, but the infection around his surgically-repaired left Achilles tendon isn’t completely healed yet. Currently, a return in late-May or early-June is what the Phillies are hoping for.

Ryan Howard (Achilles) has been taken off antibiotics.

The infection around Howard’s surgically-repaired left Achilles tendon isn’t completely healed, but it’s getting there. The 32-year-old first baseman has begun light fielding exercises and is throwing regularly, but he hasn’t been cleared for hitting. His current recovery timetable still points to a late-May or early-June return.