Chris Archer threw a bullpen session Monday.
All signs point to another rehab start either Wednesday or Thursday of this week, which puts him on track to return to the Rays, per sources, who are gearing up for another deep playoff run.
After throwing at Tropicana Field, Archer found time to show love and give wisdom to some little leaguers.
Doesn't get much better than this. Chris Archer was rehabbing today at The Trop and he took time out of his day to come talk to our boys. Thank you, Chris! #powershowcase #tropicanafield pic.twitter.com/k5x2UvH9Ak
— POWER SHOWCASE WORLD CLASSIC (@PowerShowcase) August 9, 2021
While on the comeback trail, the 32-year-old made five rehab starts before he was shut down with the hip injury.
Archer gave up three runs on 31 pitches in the first inning before being relieved of his duties by Triple-A Durham in his previous rehab start due to hip tightness.
The #Rays were hoping for Chris Archer to go 5 IP/75 pitches today for the @DurhamBulls in Norfolk.
However, the #Rays say Archer was removed after 1 IP/31 pitches due to left hip soreness. The #Rays say Archer couldn’t get his footing on the mound so it was precautionary.— Neil Solondz (@neilsolondz) August 1, 2021
In one of the starts, the right-hander showed flashes of his younger self as he threw 59 pitches in which 35 were strikes.
He struck out four while allowing one hit and one walk in a little over three innings.
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Archer had an MRI done, and the results came back exceptionally clean, which allows the former All-Star to continue his comeback trail on Monday.
The #Rays Kevin Cash says bullpens for Anderson, Feyereisen and Thompson went well today. Anderson will pitch in an FCL game on Monday.
Chris Archer will throw a bullpen on Monday, and if all goes well will pitch for Durham on Wednesday or Thursday.— Neil Solondz (@neilsolondz) August 7, 2021
Cash told the Tampa Bay Times, “If all goes well, the arm should not be shut down, so we will get him back out there assuming that he feels good and get him back to Durham to where he hopefully picks a three or four-inning outing right out of the gate.”
The start was his first since the veteran right-hander suffered the initial right forearm injury in early April.
Cash could not give an exact return date, but he told reporters that Archer would need to take more reps before returning to the big leagues.
And from the looks of it, Archer will return to the mound sooner rather than later.