Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Drew Smyly's season might not be over just yet.
The team said last week that Smyly would miss the rest of the season because of a shoulder injury, but on Tuesday, manager Kevin Cash intimated that the pitcher might be able to return this season.
Instead of season-ending surgery, Cash said the plan now is for Smyly to rest and then try to rehabilitate the injury and try to pitch again later this season.
"We're optimistic,'' Cash said. "We're hearing good things.''
Cash said he will meet with Smyly on Thursday to discuss the plan going forward.
The team transferred Smyly to the 60-day disabled list last week due to a torn labrum.
The 25-year-old Smyly came back from a spring bout of tendinitis to make three starts, but he began complaining of tightness in his arm during a start at Boston on May 5. He is 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA.
Cash also said Tuesday that left-handers Matt Moore and C.J. Riefenhauser are also progressing well from injuries, but he gave no timetable on either pitcher's probable return.
Moore, on track to return this season from Tommy John surgery he had in April 2014, threw a bullpen session on Wednesday after throwing 31 pitches in a simulated game Monday at extended spring training.
Riefenhauser has missed 28 games with shoulder inflammation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
