Angel Pagan returned to the lineup for Wednesday's spring game.

Pagan returned to the lineup for Wednesday's spring game.

Analysis:

Pagan had been sidelined for nearly two weeks with back stiffness and received an injection in his back last week. The 33-year-old had earlier reported feeling 100 percent and being confident that he'd be ready by Opening Day, so a return to spring action is a step in the right direction toward accomplishing that.