Rangers pitcher Neftali Feliz resumes rehab assignment

Remember when Texas Rangers right-hander Neftali Feliz was among the hottest names in all of baseball?

Less than two years removed from back-to-back seasons that saw him save 30+ games in dominant fashion, Feliz is back on the road to recovery and a potential late-season promotion. Feliz took the mound for triple-A Round Rock on Monday, and he threw a scoreless inning in his first appearance since putting his rehab on hold with tricep tendinitis.

The 25-year-old (yes, he’s only 25) has been virtually sidelined since the middle of 2012, as he went down with Tommy John surgery after his 8 appearances (7 starts) with Texas. He was on track to return to the big-league club much sooner than late August, but in the midst of his comeback, he was taken back by the aforementioned tricep tendinitis, and it hasn’t been a smooth road.

Because of Feliz’s track record and injury background, it would be a surprise to see him do anything except appear out of the bullpen for this year’s edition of the Rangers. However, he could be a major player if Texas goes deep into the playoffs, and if his previous performance out of the bullpen is any indication (2.67 ERA), he’ll be a quality option if he can get right physically.

This is the first simply the first step in getting back to his recovery, but Feliz is a darkhorse name that could make an impact on the MLB playoffs.