Lance McCullers Jr. Reflects on First Rehab Start with Sugar Land Space Cowboys

Rehab Start Performance

• 🚀 Lance McCullers Jr. completed his first rehab start with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, pitching two innings.
• 🎯 He allowed 2 hits, 2 earned runs, and 1 walk while striking out three batters on 35 pitches.
• 💪 McCullers felt strong throughout the two innings and expressed confidence in his ability to have pitched a third inning.

Pitching Mechanics and Focus

• 💡 A key focus during this rehab period has been working on his changeup, aiming for better command both in and out of the zone.
• ⚡ He noted that his fastball felt particularly good, especially out of the windup, with good location and finish.
• ⚠️ In the stretch, he experienced some quickness and yanking of pitches, which he attributed to being too fast and trying to do too much with runners on base.
• ⏱️ This quickness is something he is actively working to correct by being more deliberate and synced out of the stretch, especially after a 29-month layoff from game situations with runners on base.

Arm Swing Adjustment

• 🛠️ McCullers has been working on an arm swing change this offseason, which he feels has become completely normal and is no longer something he actively thinks about.
• 🧠 He described the change as significant, akin to altering fundamental movements like walking or running, and has spent months building confidence in the new pattern.

Health and Future Outlook

• ✅ The primary goal of the rehab process is to enter healthy and leave healthy, a goal accomplished in this first outing.
• 📈 The plan is to gradually build up innings, likely to three in the next outing, with a focus on pitch count and overall physical readiness.
• ⚾ He hopes to eventually return to the majors with the Astros, understanding that the process involves building capacity for starter-like workloads, including repeated warm-ups and pitching efforts.
• 🤝 McCullers expressed gratitude for the support from the Astros organization, including trainers and staff, acknowledging the immense work that has gone into preparing for even this single rehab start.