J.P. Feyereisen Hoping For Mid-September Return to Rays' Bullpen

Feyereisen has had multiple MRIs and has seen specialists in both Florida and Wisconsin. They've all worked on moving things around in his shoulder and getting everything back where it belongs. He took some time off during the All-Star break to go home to Wisconsin, and since returning has been hoping to get back with his teammates soon.

"I went home for a little bit and saw a couple of guys up there, some specialists that kind of helped me out and we moved some things around in my arm and worked on different muscles to move them around,'' he said. "Since I've been back here, we've been crushing it.

"When I got back from the All-Star break, I started feeling good and that's when we went and got the MRI to see if everything looked good and like a shoulder should. It's tough, because with a new injury, there's no set plan. You just have to keep moving forward, basically. There are certain things you have to work through. Bone bruise, the doctor in Cocoa said it was only the second time ever that he's seen something like that, a bone bruise in the shoulder. It doesn't happen too often.''

Feyereisen has been throwing again and will get in a bullpen session this weekend. If all goes well, he'll do a little more next week. He would like to be back playing games with the Rays by mid-September.

He hates not being a part of this pennant race.

"Right now, my soreness comes from just taking two months off of throwing. I don't think I've ever done that before,'' Feyereisen said. "That's the longest time off I've ever taken. Just building my arm strength back up now, and hopefully we're through the thick of it and I can get back on the bump.

"I hope so, that's the main goal (coming back this season). The way we're playing right now, I want to be a part of it. That's the No. 1 goal. Chances? I don't know what the odds are, but I think we're looking good as long as everything else keeps going smooth.''

Feyereisen also knows he can't push the rehab too fast, though. He has to give it the proper amount of time.

"That's one thing, too, is I don't want to rush back and re-injure it or irritate it again,'' he said. "They're letting me take the reins about how I feel each day. It's a lot of back-and-forth talk about how I feel each day.

''Mid-September might be the goal. We had a goal of early September, but I think mid-September is probably (more realistic) to get me comfortable and get me some time in Durham.''