FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Mark Kotsay stood on one of the back fields Tuesday afternoon at the Red Sox' Player Development Complex and watched his teammates run sprints.

The outfielder/first baseman had back surgery on Jan. 29 and made a joke Tuesday that the only reason he had the procedure was to exclude him from the running drills. An arthroscopic procedure was used to remove a displaced disk fragment. This was the second time he had it done. He said the last rehab took three months before he was able to play. The last one was done in March 2007 when he was with the Athletics.

Kotsay said he first felt the discomfort this time around when he went home after the season ended last October. At first, he thought it was just normal pain after a long season, but it got progressively worse.

"It was a simple procedure," he said. "Barring any setbacks, I should be ready the 1st of May."

He will be very limited with baseball activities this spring and he needs his strength and flexibility back before he begins throwing and hitting.

Kotsay, 34, was acquired by Boston in a trade with the Braves for outfielder Luis Sumoza last August. He hit .226 for the Red Sox with 12 RBI in 22 regular-season games. He was thrust into the starting lineup at first base in the postseason after Mike Lowell injured his hip, forcing Kevin Youkilis to play third.

Kotsay re-signed with Boston during the offseason and once he's healthy he'll be interested to know what his role will be for 2009.

"We'll see how it plays out," he said. "There are a lot of uncertainties with [other players'] health at this point. You can't speculate and you don't want to speculate on that. When I come back I want to contribute in any way possible just like I did last year at the end of the year."