Rangers pitcher Colby Lewis officially ruled out for 2013 season

An already-lost season for Texas Rangers pitcher Colby Lewis has officially come to an end.

Lewis has not appeared in an MLB game during the 2013 season as a result of a right hip injury, and, on Tuesday, he announced that he will have surgery within the next week that will end any possibility of a comeback this year.

Lewis, who had flexor tendon surgery in July 2012, was expected to return at some point during the 2013 campaign, and the right-hander did manage to make seven rehab starts in an attempt to rejoin the MLB club. However, his performance was lacking in a major way (7.50 ERA), and it was clear that he was never “right” in his return to the mound.

At 33 years old, it is certainly too early to bury Lewis’ career, but this is a significant step back. The reported recovery time in the wake of his upcoming surgery is 6-to-8 weeks, but that period of time is simply before he can resume rehab, with the target of Opening Day 2014. For his career, Lewis has just a mediocre 4.76 ERA (4.50 FIP, 4.26 xFIP), but he peaked in a significant way over the past 3 seasons (2010-2012) where he was good for a 2+ WAR in each season including a 4.9-WAR campaign in 2010.

The Rangers are likely equipped with enough arms to contend for an AL playoff spot (especially as Matt Harrison approaches a return), but there was a camp that was holding out hope for Lewis. That dream is over, at least for this season, but Texas can still show life as they proceed toward October.