Stephen Drew injury: Red Sox SS still feeling concussion symptoms

Boston Red Sox shortstop Stephen Drew was scratched from a spring training contest last week after suffereing concussion symptoms. Drew continues to experience the symptoms, and he remains a few days away from being cleared to return to the lineup, according to Sean McAdam of CSN New England.

Drew was hit in the head by a pitch from Minnesota Twins' Caleb Thielbar last Thursday. He felt fine initially, but he then started to experience blurred vision later in the evening when he was reading. The Red Sox scratched him from the next day's exhibition game, and he hasn't returned to the lineup since.

Drew told reporters yesterday that "the symptoms are still a little there." He added that he'll be in a "holding pattern until I start to feel a little more normal."

Drew continues to experience dizziness and "a little lightheadedness," and while he's been improving he said "you've got to make sure these things go away" before returning to the field. Drew said he hopes to avoid rushing things and returning too soon.

The Red Sox signed Drew to a one-year, $9.5 million free agent contract this offseason. Last year for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Oakland Athletics he hit .223/.309/.348 with 13 doubles and seven home runs. The 29-year-old owns a career batting line of .265/.328/.433 over seven seasons in the majors.