Mark Prior will take another big step toward his comeback Thursday night when he makes a start for the Class A Lansing Lugnuts.
“He can do his side [sessions] in Chicago with us and it’s close by,” pitching coach Larry Rothschild said of Lansing, Mich., about 220 miles from Chicago. “I think it’s a good place for him, intensity-wise, and to build up.”
Prior threw 23 pitches in a two-inning stint for the Cubs’ Rookie League game against Anaheim’s rookie leaguers Saturday in Mesa, Ariz., allowing one single and striking out five.
“The biggest thing to me is he comes out with no problems,” Rothschild said. “Right now, from what I know, he’s coming out of [Arizona] without any problems. As long as he does that, the arm strength is getting back to what we’re used to seeing. So it’s just a matter of building up the stamina.”
Prior is likely to throw on the side Monday at Wrigley Field during the team’s day off.
“About a month ago I finally told myself `You have to accept it, you can’t dwell on it,'” Prior said. “I think ever since then, it has been a lot easier, taking the approach that my job now is to get healthy and get back.”
Prior’s first start for Lansing will be a three-inning outing in the 45- to 50-pitch range, Rothschild said. Rothschild couldn’t say how many minor-league rehab starts Prior will make before being called up to the Cubs. The right-hander will make at least one start at Triple-A Iowa at the end of his rehab stint.
Prior is eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list June 3. Going by his current schedule of pitching every five days, Prior could start against Pittsburgh June 6 at Wrigley Field after three minor-league starts.
“We have to build him up to enough pitches where he can go five or six innings at least,” Rothschild said.
Prior watch
Status: In the home stretch.
Target date for return: Early June.
Outlook: Prior threw two innings in a Rookie League game on Saturday and is slated to make his first rehab start at Class A Lansing on Thursday. While rehabbing in Arizona the last couple weeks, Prior said he learned something from watching the young Cubs prospects going about their business. “It kind of gives you a sense of where we are here,” he said. “Sometimes you take for granted what they’re working for on an everyday level.”
