BOSTON -- Stephen Drew said he has suffered a concussion before, while playing high school football back home in Georgia, but the symptoms he experienced were nothing like the ones he began to feel after being struck in the batting helmet by a pitch thrown by Minnesota left-hander Caleb Thielbar last month.

Wednesday afternoon, 34 days after being hit, Drew was in a Boston Red Sox uniform for the first time this season, activated from the seven-day disabled list created for players with concussive symptoms, and batting eighth against Baltimore right-hander Jake Arrieta.

The Red Sox optioned Jose Iglesias to Pawtucket to make room for Drew.

"I don't feel no symptoms no more," Drew said. "Two weeks ago they were still there. Just trying to get over the spin feel, being a little lethargic, tired, stuff like that.

"It's a good feeling to be back. It was kind of a long process, because I didn't know when I would be back."

The Red Sox also announced that pitcher John Lackey was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right biceps. The Sox juggled their rotation slightly, pushing back Felix Doubront to Friday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays while having Lackey's replacement, Alfredo Aceves, pitch the series finale Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles.

A factor in the decision to pitch Aceves was to keep switch-hitting Orioles catcher Matt Wieters hitting from the left side. Aceves also has pitched well in his career against the Orioles, with a 5-2 record and 2.31 ERA in 25 games. His only previous start against the Orioles came in 2008, when he was with the Yankees and went six scoreless innings.

"[Lackey] came in and got treatment, went through some light throwing, the biceps still had some stiffness to it," manager John Farrell said. "So, not knowing how many days he'll need to have that irritation completely resolved, we thought it was in his best interests to put him on the DL, let him recover at his own rate and not have him feel like he's up against the calendar, forcing things to get back on the mound. His health and well-being are first and foremost."