A relatively new medical procedure has helped Cody Ross overcome a nagging left hamstring problem that caused the outfielder to miss substantial time in 2007.

Limited to 66 games and 173 at-bats a year ago, Ross was willing to try just about anything to strengthen his hamstring for this season.

The 27-year-old outfielder was recommended for examination by renowned physician Dr. Richard Steadman in Vail, Colo., in October.

Steadman asked Ross if he wanted to undergo a procedure. Basically, Ross had blood withdrawn from his arm. It was placed into what he calls a "high-tech machine" that cleans out the blood, leaving in the cells that help healing. The blood was then injected directly into Ross' hamstring. He received three or four of the injections.

The procedure has paid off.

"They said just relax a couple of weeks and don't do anything strenuous, and it should help the healing," Ross said. "I took an MRI. They told me I didn't have a tear or anything. It was a little scar tissue."