The Associated Press

An injured Ryan Howard clutching his leg and writhing in pain on the ground was the lasting image for the Philadelphia Phillies’ disappointing 2011 finish.

The big slugger is doing much better now, and he was all smiles after taking batting practice Wednesday for the first time since surgery to repair his torn left Achilles tendon.

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"I feel good where I am right now," Howard said. "I don’t know what everybody else’s expectations were for me to be at this point, but I feel good. Not exactly where I want to be yet. There is still a lot of strengthening that needs to take place, change of direction and working on those kinds of things.

"But I feel all right."

Howard only started swinging a bat less than two weeks ago, and he’s uncertain when he’ll return to his cleanup spot in the Phillies’ lineup.

"I’m not going to put a time limit on it. I’m going to listen to my body and see where we are," Howard said. "Obviously, the goal is to want to get out there as soon as possible, but at the same time, with this, I’m just listening to my body and it will let me know when it’s ready. I’ve been talking with the training staff and I’ve been able to do some things, taking some ground balls, doing some hitting, doing baseball-type movements."

The 2006 NL MVP batted .253 with a team-high 33 homers and 116 RBIs last year.

Angels don’t expect trouble from Abreu

Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia doesn’t expect Bobby Abreu to be a distraction in the clubhouse.

Speaking a day after Abreu said in a statement to ESPNdeportes that the Angels should trade him if he is going to spend most of his time on the bench this season, Scioscia spoke highly of the outfielder who will turn 38 on March 11, but stopped short of saying he will play every day.

"I don’t think Bobby’s going to be anything but a player who wants to come out here and wants to help us win," Scioscia said Wednesday. "Bobby and I have always spoken very candidly. He’s a professional. I don’t think there are many guys any more professional than Bobby."

With the addition of Albert Pujols, Kendry Morales’ return from injury and Mark Trumbo’s emergence last year, it appears Abreu could lose significant playing time this season.

"I’m an everyday player, and can be in the lineup for a big league team," Abreu told ESPNdeportes.com Tuesday. "I’m not going to be on the bench knowing I can play. If the Angels don’t have a set position for me, then the best thing they can do is trade me."

Abreu hit .253 last year, his lowest average over a full season. Abreu also hit only eight homers with 60 RBIs last year, a steep dropoff from 2010, when he had 20 homers and 78 RBIs.