Colby Lewis has had a lot of great moments in a Texas Rangers uniform. He, along with Cliff Lee, carried the Rangers through the 2010 postseason and he picked up the only win in the Rangers' 4-1 World Series loss that year to the Giants.
He's the greatest postseason pitcher in club history and has long been known as a gritty, tough competitor, and now we'll see that grit and determination once again as the veteran righty is set to return to a big-league mound in the coming days.
Lewis started his final rehab outing on Sunday in Round Rock, and he threw 98 pitches in less than ideal weather conditions. Now, the club has announced they do intend to add him to the 25-man roster and let him return in the coming days — most likely Saturday, which is the rotation spot of Joe Saunders, who was placed on the disabled list after taking a comebacker off the ankle on Friday.
Lewis hasn't started a big-league game since July 2012, a game he left in Oakland after experiencing pain in his arm. He later needed season-ending surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his elbow. Last year, while rehabbing, he was shut down to undergo hip resurfacing surgery, which is a less invasive surgery than a hip replacement, but essentially the same thing.
He'll be the first pitcher to pitch in the bigs after such a surgery. As far as what you should expect from Lewis, the answer is probably nothing. Anything the Rangers can get from him will be a bonus. But if he can be his old self, he's going to be a huge boost for the rotation that will also gain Matt Harrison later this month and Derek Holland in June or July.
