Brian Roberts Draws 2 Walks In Rehab Start

The headline here on May 24, 2011:

Brian Roberts Out Three Weeks With ConcussionWhat optimistic little scamps we all were! On a geological time scale, we absolutely nailed it. But in baseball terms, that projection was way off, as Roberts struggled with post-concussion syndrome for the entire 2011 season. There was obviously a chance that he could never come back, like Mike Matheny.

But Roberts is playing in the double-A Eastern League right now, as he started a 30-day rehab assignment on Wednesday. From MASN:

Roberts drew a five-pitch walk in the bottom of the first, then walked on four pitches to start the bottom of the third for the Baysox. He scored a run but didn’t have to slide. He was in the middle of a 6-4-3 double play in the top of the third but it was pretty routine and there was no takeout slide of the runner coming at him.Concussions are awful, pernicious things, so for Roberts to get back on the field at all is a huge step. He was pleasantly surprised with how things went, too.

“You know what, it really didn’t feel much different,” Roberts said. “I didn’t know what to expect, but it felt a lot more normal than I thought it was going to. I’m definitely excited about that and to share this with my family and my doctor, who I know will be thrilled. This was a very good first step tonight.”