We talked on Wednesday about how Texas Rangers starting pitcher Colby Lewis has been pleased with the progress of his rehab following surgery last summer to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow. The original timetable for his return was June or July, then it became late May or early June.
But now, as of Wednesday, Lewis could be back even sooner.
The 33-year-old workhorse, who is arguably the best postseason pitcher in Rangers history, put up a 6-6 record last year with a 3.43 ERA before being shelved for the season in mid-July got clearance from team orthopedist Dr. Keith Meister to begin throwing off a mound — not just from flat ground — by early March. That could put the wheels in motion to be ready to roll by late April.
That would mean, if all goes swimmingly, that Lewis would miss only a month after it was originally expected he'd miss at least three. That would be a major shot to the Rangers' rotation that is still searching for an internal candidate to step up and fill the No. 5 spot in the rotation while they have a still unproven, yet promising, Alexi Ogando as the No. 4 guy.
Of course, this is all "best-case scenario." If Lewis feels any discomfort during his throwing program, he said he would not push himself, and that's a good thing.
"If I feel anything, I'll dial it back," Lewis told ESPN Dallas.
