Matt Harrison could be back by the end of April and provide yet another reinforcement to the makeshift starting rotation the Texas Rangers have rolled out over these first couple of weeks of the MLB season.
On Tuesday in Frisco, Harrison had another positive step toward his return to a big-league mound, where he hasn't pitched in almost exactly a calendar year after missing all but his first two starts of the 2013 season with back issues that led to multiple surgeries.
Facing Double-A hitters, Harrison worked 4 2/3 innings and threw 62 pitches. He struck out three, walked none and allowed one run while throwing 63 percent of his pitches for strikes, according to Nolan Writin'.
Harrison allowed his one run late in the outing when he gave up back-to-back doubles, but overall he left his outing happy with his progress with hopes of returning to the Rangers' rotation late this month.
“My timing was there for the most part,” Harrison told reporters. “I got a little bit tired at the end there. I had to make some plays [in the field] and was able to do that without any issues. It’s a step in the right direction. I just need to keep building off of this.”
