Fields to play Sunday in Great Falls

Columbia Falls native Josh Fields will make his first two-inning pitching performance since last year's injury Sunday in Great Falls.

The Chicago White Sox AAA relief pitcher who tore the labrum in his pitching shoulder at the end of last season will be making his fifth rehab start for the Great Falls White Sox.

He has pitched four innings so far, giving up three hits and two walks while striking out five.

The former all-conference quarterback and free safety football player for the Wildcats said he feels great.

"My velocity is fine, I'm locating well and I'm keep the ball down," Fields said. "I'm ahead of the game in all aspects."

Fields said he has two more appearances scheduled with Great Falls and then he will await the call from his former team in the AAA International League, the Charlotte Knights, to see if they need him.

"If they need me I'll go, if they don't I'll come home for a little bit and then go to the instructional league (in Tucson, Ariz.)," Fields said.

The 26-year-old throws four different pitches: cut fastball, slider, changeup and two-seam fastball. He said he is throwing in the upper 80s (mph) right now. He had gotten into the low 90s before getting hurt.

"I'm pitching again and having a lot of fun," he said. "We're not winning, but it's still fun."

Great Falls is 8-23, 13 games behind first place, in the second half of the Pioneer League schedule.