ANAHEIM -- Jon Gray is one step closer to rejoining the big league club.
The Rangers right-handed pitcher, who fractured his forearm in Spring Training, made his first rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday, allowing one run in two innings on 32 pitches. The one run was a homer by Sam Hilliard on a Gray fastball.
“It's exciting that he's starting his rehab,” said manager Bruce Bochy. “This guy was a big part of our rotation. To have him getting close to being back to helping us, that's exciting. I think our needs would play a part into [how many rehabs he does]. Maybe four somewhere in there. But that's a rough timeline.”
While pitching has not been the Rangers issue this season, getting Gray back will allow flexibility with a number of guys enduring IL stints of their own so far this season. Additionally, both Jacob deGrom and Kumar Rocker are pitching in the first full seasons post Tommy John surgery and could potentially need innings regulations down the stretch.
Gray, who is in the final year of a four-year, $56 million deal, has endured injured list stints in each of his first three seasons with the Rangers. He threw just 102 2/3 innings in 2024 due to a pair of groin strains and a foot neuroma that required offseason surgery.