Rangers reliever Jake Diekman is still far from throwing a baseball since having surgery to alleviate complications from ulcerative colitis. That’s still months away. In fact, he can’t even run, ride a bike or lift anything more than five pounds for another three weeks. But that’s not stopping Diekman from expecting to be back on the mound for the Rangers by the All-Star break.
Diekman is scheduled to have another surgery in April, and perhaps another in June. He has to wear a colostomy bag in the mean time and won’t be able to throw until he’s clear of the surgeries.