Holland Encouraged by Bullpen Session

Derek Holland's January injury will long be remembered around here as one of the most freak, foolish injuries in some time. I mean, who trips over their dog and falls down the stairs?

OK, so maybe it's this guy.

Yes, Holland can be immature, and he often grinds old codgers' gears with all his impersonations on the picture box, but he's out to prove he's taking things seriously now, and so far, so good.

Holland, originally projected to be out until after the all-star break, which would be mid-July, threw a bullpen session on Wednesday and the results were pretty dang good considering the timeframe and where he is in the rehab process after undergoing microfracture surgery in January.

“It went spectacular," Holland told 105.3 The Fan. "It was awesome. I did really good. Everything was really well. … I used my legs well, so it wasn’t like I was trying to throw with all upper body. I did the whole drop and drive and used my legs.”

Holland, 27, threw 25 pitches in the session and is headed to Arizona now to begin throwing more sessions and even starting to throw to live hitters soon. He's currently on the 60-day disabled list, which he is eligiible to come off of on June 1. And all along, that's been his plan — more than a month ahead of the original prognosis.

The last thing the Rangers will want to do is rush back their lefty, but if he's ready, he'll definitely be needed given the Rangers' rotation situation.

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“We still have to wait until at least the typical 60-day DL expires, which I think is May 30," Holland told The Fan. "And after that I’m free to come off. Like I’ve been calling the whole time, I’m expecting to hopefully to see myself in a Rangers uniform June 1.”

The plan, Holland said, is to possibly begin making rehab starts in early May. A couple of months ago, that would've been unfathomable for many, but not for Holland.

"I’m definitely ahead of schedule," he said. "A lot of people were shocked to see how far and how well I’m coming along and how fast I’m going along. They’re very pleased with everything."

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