Jays' Hill eyeing 2009 return

Aaron Hill rejoined the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday with his head as clear as it's been in months after three weeks of total inactivity.

The second baseman has battled post-concussion symptoms since colliding with David Eckstein during a May 29 game at Oakland. He's been trying to get back to normal ever since, with no steady improvement until he completely shut down earlier this month.

"I've been doing nothing. It's great," said Hill. "The best off-season workout of my life is ahead of me.…

"I just can't wait to do something. It's going to be fun."

Hill's recovery has included numerous starts and stops, as he'd exercise and feel good one day but suffer headaches and nausea the next. The 26-year-old didn't help matters by routinely exercising "to stay sane."

He never really got past hitting the bike, running and very light baseball exercises, but once it became clear last month that he wouldn't recover in time to play this season, he shifted his focus toward being ready for 2009.

A meeting with a neurologist Thursday should confirm his progress, and perhaps give him the green light to resume physical activity in the weeks ahead.

"There's no reason for them not to clear me now," said Hill. "I don't know why he wouldn't. I don't want to do any more of those tests and everything; I'm tired of doing all that meeting people. I just want to relax and have an off-season."

Hill, who signed a four-year, $12 million US deal earlier this season, was batting .263 with two homers and 20 RBIs in 55 games.

Coming to terms with his injury hasn't been easy.

"I don't understand what happened," he said. "I still can't get it through my head that you get bumped in the head and you're out four months. But neither can the doctors that get paid to tell you that. It's just confusing.… It's funny that some people can have 18 concussions and be OK, then you get one and it's like here we go."