June 19, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Nomar Garciaparra could begin throwing this week, putting him on pace to return to the Boston Red Sox two weeks after the All-Star break.

"Nothing is etched in stone," team spokesman Kevin Shea said. "He's the best judge of how he feels."

The shortstop has been on the disabled list since March 21 with an injured right wrist. He has spent several weeks strengthening his arm since surgery.

Garciaparra, a three-time All-Star and two-time defending American League batting champion, had surgery opening day at UMass Memorial Health Care in Worcester, Mass.

The operation repaired a split and frayed tendon and the sheath that surrounds. An exposed bone at the bottom of the sheath, an injury that had not been known previously, was smoothed during surgery.

Garciaparra hit .357 in 1999 and .372 in 2000. He also led the league in 1997, when he was rookie of the year, with 209 hits and 11 triples.