Matt Harrison could start a minor league rehab assignment next week

Matt Harrison pitched in an extended spring training game yesterday, and according to Jeff Wilson, the "tentative plan" is for Harrison to pitch in an extended spring game on Saturday, and then potentially start a rehab assignment with AA Frisco.

Via Wilson, Harrison said he threw 44 pitches yesterday, hit 90 mph on his fastball, and gave up a couple of runs in three innings of work.  Harrison, of course, is working his way back from a potentially career-ending back injury that cost him most of 2013 and 2014, and which necessitated spinal fusion surgery last June.

If Harrison goes on a medical rehab assignment next week, he can be on the rehab assignment for up to 30 days, which would put him on track to be activated in late June.  While everything is still "wait and see," the best case scenario would likely be him joining the rotation around that time.  It could be determined, as well, that he needs more time in the minors, which would necessitate requesting that the rehab assignment be extended, or else waiving Harrison and outrighting him to AAA (assuming he would agree with such a course of action).

Hopefully, things will go well for Harrison, and we'll see him back in the major league rotation this summer.