Reds pitcher's alarming rehab start will quickly silence talk of a rapid return

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Wade Miley was sent on a rehab assignment to High-A Dayton this week, and on Tuesday night, made his first professional start since undergoing elbow surgery last year. The results, however, were not pretty.

Miley was lifted midway through the third inning after throwing less than 50 pitches. While 33 of the lefty's 49 tosses landed for strikes, Miley allowed six runs on nine hits while striking out just two. One of those base knocks left the yard in the top of the third inning courtesy of West Michigan's Brett Callahan. The Dayton Dragons went on to lose the game by a final score of 10-0.

This was Miley's first action since April of last year, so Reds fans shouldn't be dismayed by the results. Miley, along with Cincinnati's front office and coaching staff, should be much more focused on how his body bounces back from his first in-game action in over a year. Any talk, however, of a quick, two or three-game rehab assignment and rapid return to the active roster should be tabled for the time being.

Wade Miley's dreadful outing will quickly silence talk of a return rapid to the Reds roster

Miley is a tireless worker who doesn't like to sit still, so you know that this slow and methodical rehab process is torturing him. Miley spoke about the injury during spring training and was asked if he had a target date for his return. “If it was up to me, April 15," Miley told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. "Obviously, there are still things I have to do and accomplish. Honestly, I felt like I never had surgery."

That date has since come and gone, but Cincinnati expects Miley to be ready sometime next month. If he recovers well from his most recent outing, it's a good bet that the veteran will be back on the bump for the Dragons on Sunday. After that, it wouldn't be surprising to see Miley's rehab shift to Triple-A Louisville. The Bats go on the road to play the Memphis Redbirds next week, meaning that Miley could record his third rehab start on Friday, May 2.

Soon after that, Cincinnati will need to make a choice. Miley didn't sign a contract just to pitch in the minors. The 38-year-old southpaw undoubtedly expects to make it back to the majors, but the Reds rotation doesn't have an opening at the moment. A lot can happen, however, over the next few weeks.

Keep an eye on Miley's pitch count, not the results, over his next couple of starts. Rehab assignments for pitchers typically don't exceed 30 days, so if all systems are go, Miley should be back in the bigs by mid-May.

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