Nathan Eovaldi has taken another encouraging step in his recovery as the Texas Rangers continue to monitor his progress.
The veteran right-hander completed a 25-pitch bullpen session Thursday without restrictions, marking his first mound workout since being sidelined with right posterior elbow inflammation.
The session reportedly went well, giving the Rangers renewed optimism that Eovaldi can work his way back before the end of the regular season.
Eovaldi landed on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 10 after experiencing discomfort in his pitching elbow while playing catch.
Imaging revealed inflammation, forcing Texas to temporarily remove one of its most experienced starters from the rotation.
Before the injury, the 36-year-old had made 22 starts and remained an important part of the Rangers’ pitching staff despite not matching the dominant numbers he posted during the previous season.
The next stage of Eovaldi’s rehabilitation will depend on how his elbow responds following Thursday’s workload.
The Rangers are expected to evaluate how he feels Friday before deciding whether he should complete another bullpen session or progress to a live batting-practice workout, which would represent another significant step toward facing hitters in a game.
For Texas, getting Eovaldi back could provide a major boost as the team pushes toward the postseason.
Although he will still need time to rebuild his pitching workload before returning to a major-league start, his ability to throw freely from the mound is an encouraging sign.
The Rangers are likely to take a cautious approach, but Thursday’s successful session keeps open the possibility of Eovaldi returning to the rotation before the regular season concludes.
