Sense of delight as Ray, Cobb reach milestones
When Robbie Ray and Alex Cobb arrived at spring training, they each set milestones they hoped to hit in their respective rehabs by the time they began to pack up the equipment trucks for the trek north.
Coming back from offseason hip surgery, Cobb wanted to face live batters, typically the final step before getting into game action. Ray, who had multiple surgeries on his elbow, had a more modest goal — pitching off the mound — that reflected the more invasive nature of his procedures.
Check. And check. On Monday, Cobb threw about 25 pitches in a live batting practice session at Scottsdale Stadium. Ray also threw about 25 pitches off the bullpen mound.
“It feels really good,” Ray said, nearly 12 months after the last time he pitched off a mound. “Kept the velo where they wanted me to, which is kind of difficult to do because you just feel so good, right? But just understanding that it's a process and trusting the process. I think I threw like 22 out of 25 strikes, so pretty happy with that.”
Ray had surgeries to repair the flexor tendon, as well as the ulnar collateral ligament, in his left elbow. The latter procedure is commonly known as Tommy John and comes with a long and intense rehab. Ray, who had the operation last May, said the latest milestone puts him on track for the 14-month timetable set at the start of the process, which would place his return sometime around the All-Star break.
“Understanding the journey is not over, there's still a good leg of it left. But excited to be on this part of the journey, for sure,” Ray said. “I'd say this is right where I want to be.”
The real reason for optimism in the clubhouse, where starting pitchers have been dropping like flies, surrounds Cobb.
His progression to facing live hitters came barely four-and-half months after he had surgery to repair a torn labrum and impingement in his left hip.
When the pitchers reported for camp, the timeline for Cobb's return was thought to be closer to Ray's than to Opening Day. Now, the 36-year-old right-hander is entering the final stage of his rehab — the typical six-week buildup for starting pitchers — and could be activated by the start of May.
“He's a special human,” Ray said in regards to Cobb's age-defying recovery. “That's a big step in the rehab process. I think when he gets into an actual game and starts pitching against a different jersey, that'll be a big step as well. But yesterday was a huge step for him.”