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Less than a year removed from elbow reconstruction surgery, the one-time closer for Pittsburgh is gearing up to return to the Braves bullpen with as much fervor as ever.
Plans for him to return after the All-Star break got scrapped. It's since been bumped up to June, then May and now mid-May.
Gonzalez is scheduled to pitch his last extended spring training game May 14 and either go on a short minor league assignment or directly to Atlanta, he said.
His timing is critical for a bullpen that has likely lost Peter Moylan for the season to elbow surgery, has Rafael Soriano on the disabled list with elbow problems and John Smoltz resorting to a return to relief.
"I've been salivating to get back out there since they left (spring training)," said Gonzalez, who's been buoyed by phone calls from Smoltz. "My intentions are to go in there and have an immediate impact. I'm not planning to go out there and try to figure things out. My things to figure out are right now."


Gonzalez determined to rejoin Braves | ajc.com