Neftali Feliz prepares for rehab

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Less than nine hours after Tommy John surgery, Texas Rangers pitcher Neftali Feliz came into the clubhouse using a crutch and wearing a sling on his pitching arm.

Even though he can't do much of anything yet, Feliz already was talking about getting better and building strength so that he could return. The normal rehab time is 12 to 18 months.

"It's something that makes you feel bad," said Feliz through an interpreter when asked about his disappointment at having his season come to an end. "But there's nothing you can do about it. I just have to follow my rehab and try to get back as soon as I can."

Feliz did not believe that any kind of additional workload this season transitioning from the bullpen to the rotation contributed to the injury. He was asked about the possibility of returning even stronger, as many pitchers throw harder after the surgery.

"I'm going to work hard and do my best and see what happens," Feliz said. "If I throw 110, that's great."

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print
• Subscribe

Richard Durrett

ESPNDallas.com

• Follow
• Archive

Richard Durrett joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He writes about colleges, the Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers. Richard spent nine years at The Dallas Morning News covering the Rangers, Stars, colleges, motorsports and high schools.