FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Refreshed and even recently-shaven, Johnny Damon was back in his center field office and batting leadoff in Tuesday night's game against the Reds.

This, after being sidelined for a week with a skin infection called cellulitis, which caused Damon swelling in both his right ankle and his groin.

He still wonders how he got the ailment.

"It was just weird how it happened," Damon said. "We still don't know how it happened, whether it was a foul ball or whether it was a spider bite or an ant bite, we have no idea. I was pretty roughed up."

But now he's revved up after missing a few days of his least favorite time of year.

During the regular season, Damon would rather have teeth pulled then miss any time. Missing exhibition games hardly has the same effect.

"You know how I feel about Spring Training. It's not my favorite thing and it never will be. You know we're here for the pitches, those rat-stinking guys that keep us here for so dang long," chuckled Damon. "That's all right. I don't mind missing days in Spring Training."

Damon was also glad that the timing of the injury allowed him time to get back in the swing before the games start for real at Yankee Stadium on April 3.

"I hope to have [my timing back] when I swing the bat tonight," said Damon, who went 0-for-3 against the Reds. "I feel confident enough in my ability with what I've been doing in batting practice and what not that I'll be ready to go."

Damon will continue to take antibiotics for the next five days or so, but has no concern that he'll be weakened.

"I plan to play [Wednesday], too," Damon said. "I feel like I haven't missed much. Physically, I wasn't here, but I don't think I've lost anything with those days off. I went out and ran pretty good [Monday]. I'm ready to go."

Francona didn't plan on putting Damon back in the lineup until Wednesday, but the center fielder and training staff convinced him to move it up a day.

"That's good news," Francona said. "Let him shake some of that rust off and get back to playing."

Why the temporary loss of the beard for Damon?

"I've been seeing my face everywhere and I got sick of it. Haven't you guys got sick of it? I had to trim it up and take on a new look for a couple of days," said Damon. "The beard is going to be back here in probably three or four days."

In the meantime, the jovial Damon was enjoying his beauty. So, too, he confided, was his wife Michelle.

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"I really got sick of it. It was a little hot here. I forgot how good looking I was," said Damon. "My wife definitely likes it off now. She liked it with the beard, but she says I represent here a little better with it off."

Entering his fourth year with the Red Sox, Damon is excited about the prospects for the coming season. He just hopes it's not his last in Boston, as he is one of several veteran members of the team in the final year of his contract.

"The thing about the Red Sox is they're notoriously the team that waits until after the season," said Damon. "They know I want to be here. I know they want me here. We probably could get something done, but that's just their philosophy. They know what kind of shape I can come in if I take care of my body. I plan to keep on putting together some good years. I feel like I just hit my prime.

"As far as mentally and physically, I know what I need to do on the baseball diamond. I hope the reason they can't sign me now is so they can sign me to a six- or seven-year deal after the season. It works out in my favor because that's what happens when you hit free agency, your years go up and the market goes up."

In typical Damon fashion, he was glad to talk about the contract, but seemingly not very worried about it.

He was in an affable mood, signing autograph after autograph following batting practice and then holding court in the dugout with a small gathering of reporters for roughly a half hour.

Damon's social calendar is typically full, especially on April 4, when he will use the off day (which comes immediately following the opener) to promote the release of his autobiography and do multiple television shows.

"It's going to be a very busy day. We better win, so I'm in a good mood the next day," Damon said. "Regis and Kelly in the morning. I'm visiting the Ronald McDonald House in the afternoon. I've got the book signing. The team's got David Letterman going on [that night]. It's amazing what bringing a world championship to Boston does, not only for me but the whole team."

With that in mind, Damon noted how important it will be to prioritize the task in hand once those games begin in earnest.

"We know that we need to figure out our schedule real quick," said Damon. "We know people are going to be wanting us to do things here and there. We also know we have to play baseball. If we can get through that first month, we're going to be fine -- especially with the injuries with the pitchers. The first month is going to be key. That's the time we really need to grind it out and see where we stand."

Best of all for the Red Sox on Tuesday was Damon being back in the grind of it after his brief sabbatical.