Lewis Has Successful Rehab Outing

Colby Lewis has done this a few times this year, this whole "beginning a rehab assignment" thing, and he did it once again on Wednesday night in Frisco when he started another rehab assignment after his past two have been shut down due to soreness in his forearm.

Lewis worked 2 2/3 innings and allowed four runs for Double-A Frisco — not what you would call a successful outing if the game meant anything, but for a rehab start, and especially a first one, it accomplished the goal which was for Lewis to work and not be sore afterward.

"I was hoping it would feel a lot better and it definitely does," Lewis said. "I need to go out there and continue to get reps and repeat that delivery and continue to get strong. I felt like I had more whip right now. The ball's coming out of my hand a little bit easier than it did last time. I felt like it was a lot of effort trying to get the ball to the plate last time. Definitely it was easier."

Lewis relied mostly on his fastball, which sat in the upper-mid 80s but hit 89 mph a couple of times — still short of what he ultimately wants, but again, for a first start of a rehab assignment all you can ask for is a clean bill of health.

Anything the Rangers get from Lewis this year has to be considered a bonus now after it was initially thought he'd be back by May, which later turned to June and is now set at early August if things go well.

It's now been more than a year since Lewis last pitched in a big-league game after undergoing surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his pitching elbow, and he still believes he can contribute to the Rangers this season.

"When I'm ready, I'm sure they'll think I'm ready and activate me," Lewis said. "I want to get back to the form I've been in the last three years."

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