As David Bote took the field Friday afternoon at Busch Stadium in St. Louis for batting practice, chills began running through his body. 

“It was a really cool moment,” Bote told Taylor McGregor prior to Saturday’s game against the Cardinals. “It’s been a long road back, but I’m really excited to be back and super grateful for the opportunity again.”

Bote underwent offseason shoulder surgery on his left shoulder in November. The original diagnosis was for him to be out around 6 months. He began the season on the 60-day IL, rehabbed at the Cubs complex in Arizona and went on a rehab assignment to Triple-A Iowa in May. On June 7, he suffered a setback when he was pulled from a game with dizziness. 

“It’s stuff that I’ve kinda been dealing with the last couple of years,” Bote said. “Just all of a sudden it just kinda hit all at once.”

He said the symptoms were managed and under control and returned to Iowa on June 17. On Friday, he was activated from the IL and played in his first MLB game since Sept. 30 of last year. 

Catch the full interview above.