WASHINGTON -- Reds manager Bryan Price understands that when one of his pitchers works during a Minor League rehab assignment, the results in his final line aren't likely to blow him away. Such was the case from Homer Bailey's start on Saturday for Triple-A Louisville.
In his second outing for Louisville, Bailey pitched two innings and allowed one earned run, five hits, one hit batter, one balk and one strikeout. But physically, he was fine.
"He doesn't feel like he's in midseason form yet. That takes time," Price said on Sunday.
Targeted for around 40 pitches, Bailey finished with 38 pitches -- 28 for strikes.
"Velocity was good, it just didn't feel that the ball was coming out as usual," Price said. "He was still good. He was up to 96, threw strikes. It's a part of the process. The good news was he threw strikes and more importantly, was healthy and felt fine."
Bailey has spent the bulk of this season rehabilitating from May 2015 Tommy John surgery. His first rehab assignment was shut down after a setback during an April 26 start and after subsequent rest, he had to start a new throwing program from scratch.
The Reds plan to have Bailey make at least five rehab starts, which could put him on pace to be activated from the disabled list in late July if there are no more setbacks. In the meantime, the numbers have to be viewed through the lens as if it were early March in camp at Goodyear, Ariz.
"It's [like] Spring Training coming off of two elbow surgeries," Price said of Bailey, who also had flexor mass tendon surgery on his arm in 2014. "I'm so confident he's going to come back and feel that electric fastball again. He's just going through the part of the process where as good as he feels physically, you don't feel the aggression and electric stuff. It will get there."
Worth noting
• Right-hander Tim Adleman, who made four starts for the Reds before he went on the DL with a strained left oblique, will begin a rehab assignment on Monday. Adleman is expected to throw two innings for the Arizona League team in Goodyear.
• Outfielder Juan Duran cleared outright waivers and was sent to Double-A Pensacola. Duran recently completed an 80-game suspension for violating the league's ban on performance-enhancing drugs.