The Texas Rangers are finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to their banged-up pitching staff. After weeks of uncertainty, several key arms are making meaningful progress toward returning to the mound. Here's the latest update on who's healing, who's throwing, and when fans might see their full arsenal back in action.
Cody Bradford has been cleared to begin throwing again, a major milestone six weeks after he was shut down with elbow tightness. On Friday, Bradford played catch from 60 feet for the first time since the injury. If he continues to feel good, he'll gradually increase his workload—a promising sign for a pitcher who was finding his groove before the setback.
Jordan Montgomery is also trending in the right direction. After completing a weeklong "de-load" program following elbow surgery, he returned to playing catch on Friday. This marks the beginning of the final phase of his rehab. He'll continue building up arm strength before throwing a bullpen session next week. After two successful bullpens, he could begin facing live hitters. Essentially, that first bullpen on Wednesday will serve as his personal spring training, putting him on roughly a seven-week path to game-ready form.
Jose Corniell, the Rangers' top starting prospect, was scheduled to make his season debut Friday for Triple-A Round Rock after dealing with arm fatigue during spring training. His return is a welcome development for the organization's future plans.
Luis Curvelo has headed to Arizona for live batting practice sessions before beginning a rehab assignment. The right-hander has been sidelined since straining his right biceps last month.
Chris Martin is expected to throw live batting practice on Saturday—his first time facing hitters since being shut down on April 14 with a shoulder impingement. For a veteran reliever whose command and experience are invaluable late in games, this is a critical step forward.
Robert Garcia, also dealing with a shoulder impingement, has started playing catch but hasn't yet thrown off the mound. He's working on extending his throwing distance and admitted Friday that while he feels "pretty good," there's still some "pinching/pain" in the shoulder. "We're just trying to work that out, but be smart," said Garcia, who hasn't pitched since April 16. "We might have to mix in a couple off days."
With each positive update, the Rangers are inching closer to the full complement of arms that made their rotation and bullpen such a formidable force. For a team built on pitching depth, every healthy return is a step toward reclaiming their competitive edge.
