ARLINGTON — The Rangers were relatively quiet before the trade deadline, but internally, reinforcements are on the horizon.
Rangers right-handed pitcher Jack Leiter threw a two-inning live bullpen before Monday’s game vs. the San Francisco Giants at Globe Life Field as he works his way back from ankle surgery. Leiter threw “20 something” pitches, felt fine afterwards and “was throwing 98 mph” per manager Skip Schumaker.
“That was a good sign,” Schumaker said. “It was loud and it looked like Jack.”
Leiter, who underwent an operation to remove a loose bone in his right ankle June 23, said that he feels occasional soreness around his ankle but was “happy with where it’s at” after Monday’s workout. The Rangers have not yet determined Leiter’s next steps, and while Schumaker said that he may require another live bullpen session before a minor league rehab assignment, “it might be a quicker ramp-up than even we anticipated.”
“He never stopped throwing, so his arm is conditioned, it was always the lower half,” Schumaker said. “Start, stop, PFP’s, all that stuff to make sure he felt okay on the ankle.”
Leiter isn’t the only sidelined player whose return may be near.
LHPs Jordan Montgomery and Cody Bradford: Schumaker said that the club’s decision makers have yet to discuss Montgomery and Bradford’s next steps as they return from elbow surgery. Montgomery threw five scoreless innings at Triple-A Round Rock Sunday night, “came out good,” per Schumaker, and has continued to trend in the right direction.
3B Josh Jung: Jung (calf strain) ran before Monday’s game and felt “much better” than it did last week. He was shut down over the weekend to rest his calf and resumed baseball activities Monday, though per Schumaker, it’s still unclear how much much longer he’ll be sidelined for or whether he’ll need a minor league rehab assignment.
C Kyle Higashioka: Higashioka (flexor strain) worked out at TMI Sports Medicine last week to strengthen his forearm and shoulder. He’s caught pitchers, shagged fly balls and ran, though he still hasn’t thrown since he was place on the injured list July 21. The 36 year old said that may happen “soon.”
LHP Robert Garcia: Garcia (shoulder inflammation) has been sidelined since April 23 but is expected to throw off of a mound soon. Schumaker said Garcia’s ramp-up could move quickly because he only needs to be stretched out for a single inning.
C Danny Jansen: Jansen (forearm strain), out since June 3, has been encouraged by his progress and expects to throw to the bases sometime this week. He said that his arm has responded well to catch and “hard throws.”