Boston - David Ortiz isn't about to let a protective boot on his right foot keep him from taking a few hacks in an indoor cage at Fenway Park.

One day after being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right Achilles, Ortiz said before Thursday's game against Chicago that he plans to hit in the cage.

"Actually, I think I might be hitting tomorrow. The doctor told me that," he said in the clubhouse before Boston's series finale against Chicago. "Not on the field, in the cage."

Wearing a black protective boot on his right foot and standing at his locker, he laughed and then smiled before answering if he thought it might be a bit awkward.

"I don't know. I'm about to find out," he said. "But the doctor told me yesterday: "You're going to be able to take some swings in the boot.' This boot kind of rotates. It's not like the one that I had before that, that was just like flat-footed. I think I'll be fine."

Ortiz went to Miami for a second opinion on the injury Wednesday, a day after the club told him it was strained.

"My agent Diego (Benz) wanted it, and I'm a good friend with Micky (Arison, Miami Heat owner)," he said. "Once my injury showed up, they called Diego because basketball players, it seems like they pretty much deal with that often, and this (doctor) is one of the best going at it.

"So I got my MRI here and the doctor talked to me about it and when I heard that, (I went for) something else just to make sure," he continued. "The doctor totally agreed with what the doctor told me here. So everybody's on the same page, and just went down yesterday and came back and right away started getting treated."

Now he hopes to starting swinging again on Friday.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine smiled first and then said he thought Ortiz would be supervised when he hits.

"Did he say that?" Valentine said. "He might do something. When he does, I'm sure he'll be supervised and regulated."

Ortiz suffered the injury rounding second in Monday's win.