Percy could be ready for Opening Day

Closer Troy Percival has said all along that he will be ready to pitch when the Rays open the season April 6 in Boston. Manager Joe Maddon is beginning to think along those lines, too.

“From what I’m seeing right now," Maddon said, "it may happen.”

Percival, who had surgery on his lower back in November, is schedule to pitch Thursday against the visiting Phillies. It would be his first outing of the spring and, providing there are no setbacks, will have him on scheduled to be ready for the season.

“We’ll see as we move this along," Maddon said. "It looks as though he may be able to do that right now.”

Maddon has watched Percival throw and doesn't see a pitcher who had offseason back surgery or was placed on the disabled list three times with hamstring and knee injuries and was basically shut down in September because of his back problems.

“He looks very good to me," Maddon said. "I don’t see any kind of hesitation or restriction. So, I think he’s in really good shape.”

Despite his injuries last season, Percival did manage to save 28 games for the Rays. He has taken advantage of the Rays state-of-the-art weight room and training facility in their new spring training home in Port Charlotte.

“He is the weight room and he’s doing more work now than he’s been able to do in the last couple of years," Maddon said. "For my, physically, he looks like he’s in as good as shape as he’s been in in a while.”