ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays left-hander David Price threw his second bullpen session Monday as he continues his rehab from a strained left triceps.
Price threw about 45 pitches and said afterward that his “arm felt as good as it has felt all year.” The session followed his first bullpen session Friday, when he threw 38 pitches.
“Honestly, I’m totally as if it never happened,” said Price, speaking before the Rays opened a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. “I felt that good right now. Like I said, this is the best I’ve felt all year long, including spring training. It feels 100 percent right now.”
On Monday, Rays manager Joe Maddon said Price will throw another bullpen session Wednesday and a simulated game Saturday before making minor league rehab starts. On Friday, Maddon said Price will require three rehab assignment starts before returning to Tampa Bay in late June or early July.
“I felt like I could have pitched in a game today,” Price said. “That’s how good I felt. We’ll just talk about it and see how it goes.”
Price was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the first time in his career on May 16. He has not traveled with the Rays since sustaining the injury during an abbreviated start against the Red Sox on May 15, but he has remained a presence at Tropicana Field during homestands.
He is 1-4 with a 5.24 ERA in nine starts this season.
“Whenever I come back, they want me to come back and stay back, not just to come back and to make a couple starts,” Price said. “They want me to be here to be here in August and September when the games are magnified by everybody. … That’s our main goal, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
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