Dan Uggla
Surprising or not, Dan Uggla is getting a World Series ring for his efforts. (USATSI)

VIERA, Fla. – Yes, Dan Uggla gets a San Francisco Giants World Series ring.

The news came via text from Giants traveling secretary Bret Alexander back in January. The delicious text read: “What’s your ring size?”

Uggla laughs at the thought. Really, he laughed a hearty laugh at the idea of what he realizes is quite a nice a gift from his brief teammates considering his Giants summer cameo lasted all of four games last year.

“I think it’s awesome,” said Uggla, who’s in camp here trying to make the Nationals. “You obviously feel kind of undeserving. But it’s really cool of them to include everybody. I’m really excited, and appreciative to the guys. I wish it could have been a longer stay.”

Uggla’s had a terrific career, mostly with the Marlins, but he also knows he didn’t do much – or anything, really – to earn the ring, other than appearing on the World Champion Giants roster and getting in a few games. In exactly four games with the Giants last summer, Uggla went 0 for 11 with six strikeouts, and he made three errors.

He doesn’t blame anyone but himself for his performance for the Giants. “They made the right call,” Uggla said about his release, resignedly. He did root them on as they won their third World Series title in five years.

Uggla’s quickie callup didn't work out, though perhaps it spurred the Giants to promote rookie Joe Panik, who became a Giants hero, and maybe even inspired them to acquire veteran starting Jake Peavy, who helped the Giants reach the postseason with a big second half.

“I’m really happy for everyone,” Uggla said.

As for Uggla he’s trying to resurrect a career that took a wrong turn somewhere in Atlanta, where he still makes his home.

Uggla thinks his downward spiral was caused by two beanballs, one in 2012 and one in ’13, that he says triggered concussions, and ultimately, vision problems. He went from .220 in 2012 to .179 in ’13, then .149 last year in limited action.

Uggla got lasik surgery along the way, and he still couldn’t see the ball, or at least not well enough at 90-plus mph.  It took a while to diagnose the problem because he could still read eye charts fine.

Eventually, he was referred to Dr. Robert Donatelli by former Braves star Marquis Grissom, who battled similar problems.  The issue apparently only cropped up when his head was moving, and the ball was moving, especially fast. Donatelli diagnosed oculomotor dysfunction, as Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe first reported.

Now Uggla feels like himself again, or at least much better than he did.

He said he figures he is close to 20-20 now after being told he was 20-100 in motion before.

“I feel great,” said Uggla, whose $13-million salary will be paid by the Braves this season (minus the $500,000 minimum  if he should happen to make the Nats). “And it’s getting better and better every day.”

He’s still only 35, and while he’s had two straight forgettable years, he is hopeful he can recapture something. He is hitting .274 with a home run in 22 at-bats for the Nats, who are at least open-minded. Who knows? Maybe he even plays, and gets to face his ex-Giants team.

As for that World Series share, well, he hasn’t even thought about whether one may be coming his way.

 “Gee, I don’t think so,” Uggla said. ‘I wouldn’t think so.”