Clemens vows to have fun in his return against Bluefish

HOUSTON -- Stopping short of ruling out an eventual return to the major leagues, seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens vows to have fun in his return to the mound Saturday night with the Sugar Land (Texas) Skeeters against the Bridgeport Bluefish.

In his first major press availability since he spoke immediately after he was acquitted of perjury charges in June, the Rocket was jovial and even smiled when a local radio station brought up his AARP eligibility and the potential of a hip injury.

"I'm going out there to have fun, try and stay healthy and see where it goes," Clemens, 50, said. "I'm not going to be too far away from the game of baseball."

Clemens, who hasn't pitched competitively since 2007 with the New York Yankees, admittedly isn't quite ready for the big time.

"I wouldn't consider myself anywhere close to major-league ready," said the former Astros, Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays star. "I'm nowhere near where I was five years ago or the amount of work that went into it."

The Skeeters' Constellation Field is a far cry from Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, Minute Maid Park or the other major-league stadiums Clemens packed during his legendary career.

jesus.ortiz@chron.com