At last, some good news for the Tigers: Jeremy Bonderman is back. Well, almost.
        “I’m not too far away, maybe one or two more starts,” Bonderman said late Friday afternoon at Comerica Park, unable to keep the smile off his face.
        When Bonderman does return to the mound for the Tigers -- assuming he doesn’t suffer any more setbacks -- it will have been nearly one full year since he last threw a pitch in the big leagues.
        Bonderman was 3-4 in 12 games before suffering a blood clot in his right shoulder and undergoing surgery last summer. His last start came on June 1.
        “It took a little longer than I was hoping,” he admitted Friday, smiling again.
        When Bonderman does return, he will undoubtedly rejoin the starting rotation. That will leave the Tigers with a major decision to make. The starting rotation currently consists of Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson, Rick Porcello, Armando Galarraga and Dontrelle Willis.
        Feel free to venture a guess as to who will go -- and where.
        “I understand they’ve got some big decisions to make,” Bonderman said. “I’m fine with whatever they want me to do.”
        Bonderman, who drove to Detroit from Lakeland, Fla., with his dad this week, will pitch for the Tigers’ Class A West Michigan affiliate Saturday night. Bonderman knows, as a big league star with a $12.5 million, it will be his responsibility to pay for an appropriate post-game clubhouse spread for his minor league playmates.
        He may make another start or two at West Michigan, or pitch for Triple A Toledo, before he rejoins the Tigers. Between rehab appearances, Bonderman will work out at Comerica Park.
        “This gives me peace of mind, more than anything,” he said.
        “I’m feeling a lot better, no pain, nothing,” said Bonderman, who had initially hoped to be sufficiently recovered from last summer’s surgery to open the season with the Tigers.
        But his arm hurt and his fastball wasn’t up to speed during spring training and he was placed on the disabled list. Bonderman stayed behind in Lakeland for what is known as extended spring training, working with some minor leaguers, when the Tigers broke camp and came north.
        “There was this deep ache in my arm, I knew something wasn’t right,” he said. “Then one day, about three weeks or a month ago, something kind of popped. I guess that cleared up what needed to be cleared up because my arm felt better after that.”
        Bonderman said he now throwing 88 to 91 mph.
        “My velocity will get better,” he said. “It’s hard to get motivated when you’re pitching at 10 o’clock in the morning on one of those back fields at Tigertown with nobody there.”