Lewis closes in on return to Rangers

ARLINGTON -- Colby Lewis may only have to wait a few more days before making his return to a Major League mound, and judging by his demeanor during a visit to the Rangers' clubhouse Friday, he remains a patient man.

Asked to describe how it felt to be on the verge of a comeback after a protracted recovery from elbow and hip surgeries, Lewis said, "It actually doesn't seem like it's been that long."

In fact, it has been 632 days since his last start for the Rangers.

Lewis could be slated to pitch against Seattle in the three-game series that begins Monday, though he will not be officially added to the Rangers' 40-man roster until the day he makes his comeback.

After thanking Dr. Keith Meister, who performed elbow surgery on Lewis in 2012, and Dr. Edward Su, who performed hip surgery in 2013, the 34-year-old right-hander was thankful the time has come for him to return. He believed he was close at the end of Spring Training, but was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock where he made a couple of rehab starts.

The latter came on April 6, when he threw five innings and allowed two earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three.

"I'm happy to have another opportunity and for the Rangers to give me that opportunity," Lewis said. "I felt like I was healthy and ready … I want to get outs and be productive and I knew I could do that at the big league level. This is where I wanted to be, and it's happened."

Lewis doesn't see himself as the same pitcher as the one who made his last start in July 2012.

"You change, of course, throughout the course of your career," he said. "I definitely feel different. I've got more range of motion. It's just being able to adapt and figure out what you've got that day. That's kind of the way I've run my career, just adapting to how my body feels and what I'm going to be able to perform with that day. That's kind of all I've ever done."