The Texas Rangers have had a rough stretch of injuries dating back to this time last year when Derek Holland was recovering from microfracture surgery on his knee that ended up holding him out until September.
Little did we know then that the Rangers would lose starters Matt Harrison and Martin Perez within a week of each other just a month into the season and neither would pitch again for the remainder of the year — Perez with Tommy John surgery and Harrison with spinal fusion surgery that was career threatening (and still is).
With that said, the Rangers are pleased with where each is in their rehab process, and it seems they are both ahead of their projected schedule even though, in Harrison's case especially, the club is going to be extra cautious and not rush anything.
“I feel like the ball is going fast,” Perez told the Star-Telegram. “I’m doing good. I’m throwing every day again. I just want to do everything good, take my time and come back and help my team.”
Perez is expected back at some point in July, and Harrison could be back by late May.
The big question is what the Rangers can expect from either, as Tommy John recoveries usually aren't 100 percent until two years removed from the surgery, and Harrison's recovery is in doubt regardless just because of the delicacy of the surgery and the stress on the back of a big-league pitcher.
