CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Toronto's A.J. Burnett allowed one run
and three hit in four innings Thursday night during a
rehabilitation start for Class A Dunedin against Clearwater.
Burnett walked two, struck out two and hit a batter, throwing 39
of 62 pitches for strikes.
The right-hander, signed to a $55 million, five-year contract
during the offseason, took himself out of a spring training game on
March 18 because of elbow pain, which came from scar tissue coming
loose.
"It felt good," said Burnett, "It's a lot different getting
out there in competition. You can go out there and throw as many
bullpens as you want, but getting out there in live competition you
really see how you do and how you feel. I made some pitches to get
out of that jam."
Burnett was caught by Gregg Zaun (strained right calf muscle),
who also is on 15-day disabled list. They planned to return to
Toronto on Friday.
Toronto has said Burnett will make another rehab start on April
11, then make his Blue Jays debut at the Chicago White Sox on April
16.