Recovery Wards

ON AVERAGE, 38% OF BIG LEAGUERS LAND ON THE DISABLED LIST EACH SEASON, THEIR BATTING PRACTICE AND BULLPEN SESSIONS REPLACED BY REST AND REHAB. THIS YEAR SOME BIG NAMES ARE MAKING COMEBACKS AFTER MISSING ALL OR MOST OF 2011. HERE'S WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR MINDS AND—WITH THE HELP OF THE ARTISTS AT THE VISUAL MD—IN THEIR BODIES

JOHAN SANTANA

SP, METS

INJURY: TORN ANTERIOR CRUCIATE CAPSULE

GAMES PITCHED IN 2011: 0

ON TAKING IT SLOW IN SPRING TRAINING: "WE'RE STILL BUILDING UP PITCHES. ONCE WE GET TO 80 TO 90, AND DO IT EVERY FIVE DAYS, THAT'S WHEN WE'LL SAY WE'RE GOOD. THAT'S WHAT I'M FOCUSED ON RIGHT NOW."

ON HOW HE'LL KNOW HE'S BACK: "YOU'LL SEE IT OUT THERE WHEN THEY SWING AND MISS. IT'S ALL ABOUT [THE HITTERS], THE WAY THEY APPROACH, THE WAY THEY SWING. IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW HARD YOU THROW."

ON FEELING RELIEF WHEN HE FINISHES AN OUTING WITHOUT PAIN: "EVERY TIME. EVERY DAY IS IMPORTANT. AND EVERY TIME I GO THROUGH EVERYTHING, IT'S A DAY CLOSER TO COMING BACK."

STEPHEN STRASBURG

SP, NATIONALS