Chris Archer, whose mother, Donna Archer, died at age 71 on May 1 in his hometown of Clayton, N.C., spoke to the media on Saturday for the first time about his loss.

“I'm just grateful for the time that I had [with her]. I wouldn't be sitting here with you guys if it wasn't for my mom and the things that she did for me. I'm also super grateful that the Rays let me take whatever time that I needed,” Archer said. “One of the benefits of being with this organization is they know my mom on a personal level. So when things got serious, they really encouraged me to go home and be with my family, especially considering that I had to rest a little bit -- because of my tendinitis situation -- anyway.”

Archer explained that his mother fell ill close to the end of Spring Training due to pneumonia and an infection in her lungs. Archer was at his mother's side along with his father Ron Archer at the time of her passing.

“I think what I learned is the Tampa Bay Rays are not only a great team, they're a great organization,” Archer said. “I should have already known that, but you really don't know until you go through something like this, and the people here really stepped up for me, top to bottom.”

The Rays transferred Archer, who had been on the injured list with right lateral forearm tightness, to the 60-day injured list shortly after her passing, in part to give him as much time as he needed to grieve.

On Saturday, Archer spoke to explain his absence and his current status as fans await his return to the mound. On May 14, Archer began a throwing program, but after experiencing some discomfort in his right forearm, the Rays shut him down for the time being.

“I'm aiming to get out there as soon as I possibly can. Being healthy and being sharp, it's just gonna have to play itself out," Archer said. "You know, I think if I didn't have to go home, I would already have been back, because my whole body feels good, I just need to rest that one part and just get that inflammation [out] now. We feel like it's gone. Now, we just have to build.

"I would love to be back by the time July starts, but again, it's just unpredictable right now.”

Prior to the discomfort, Archer had been throwing off flat ground for approximately a week. However, with the program paused there could potentially be another setback for Archer's return.

Though he hasn't been able to make a second start yet this season, Archer has obviously made a name for himself in the Majors. For his career, he has a 3.87 ERA and a 13.1 bWAR. Archer signed a one-year $6.5 million deal with the Rays on Feb. 9.

In seven seasons with Tampa Bay from 2012-18, Archer was a two-time All-Star and had a 3.69 ERA.

Though Archer will be pitching with a heavy heart after the loss of his mother, he said playing baseball can offer some measure of solace.

“I know that she'll have the best seat in the house through the rest of my life, through baseball through me continuing to grow as a human being, and most importantly, all the things that she instilled in me and some of the last messages from her talking about just having fun playing the game," Arhcer said. "So definitely, you know, can't wait to get out there and contribute to this team, but also go out there and have fun and honor her, because that's what she always wanted me to do.”