John Olerud, an All-American baseball player at...

John Olerud, an All-American baseball player at Washington State, has returned to practice for the first time since undergoing surgery in late February for an aneurysm at the base of his brain.

Olerud, a junior pitcher and first-baseman, took hitting practice with the team and did some light conditioning. He is seeking to regain the form that earned him player-of-the-year honors from Baseball America magazine last season, when he compiled a 15-0 pitching record and led his team with a .464 batting average.

Olerud may be back in action later this season, which ends in late May.