OF Matt Joyce, sidelined all spring with right leg tendinitis, said he physically felt "great" after his first spring game action, a minor league exhibition Tuesday with Durham against Rochester.

Joyce had three at-bats as DH, going 0-2 with a walk and strike out. He also got some work baserunning (he scored a run in the first, and got picked off first in the fifth). But while the results weren't what he'd like, Joyce was encouraged with how he felt afterwards.

"Everything felt great - nothing with the calf," Joyce said. "Legs felt a little bit like jello, but for the first day out there, it's expected. Now the body's just got to catch up with everything, with the mind. But the leg feels great."

Joyce, acquired from the Tigers in the offseason trade of RHP Edwin Jackson, said he's slated to play in the outfield Wednesday in a minor league game, and if all goes well, could get some at bats with the Rays against the Cardinals Thursday.

"It was great just to get out there and play, just to get on the field and run," Joyce said. "Obviously it's not really the way you want to start, but usually when you start bad, you usually have a good year - so I'm pretty positive about that one."

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com