PEORIA, Ariz. -- Felix Hernandez vows that he'll be ready to pitch by Opening Day, but he wasn't hiding the fact that his valuable right arm -- the one that has carried him to six All-Star Games, an Amerlcan League Cy Young Award and a perfect game -- was throbbing as he reported to work on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old took a wicked line drive off the bat of Cubs catcher Victor Caratini squarely in his forearm in the second inning of his first Cactus League start on Monday. The good news was Hernandez avoided serious injury -- no broken bones, just a deep bruise.