Bradley targets May 16 return; Corbin nears rehab stint

PHOENIX -- If all goes well over the next week, it appears right-hander Archie Bradley will be on the mound May 16 when the D-backs take on the Phillies in Philadelphia.

That's far sooner than anyone could have initially thought when he was struck in the face by a 115-mph line drive off the bat of the Rockies' Carlos Gonzalez on April 28.

Surprisingly, Bradley did not suffer any damage to his orbital bone or jaw and walked away with just a slight sinus fracture and no concussion.

Since that time he's thrown a pair of bullpen sessions and is scheduled to throw a simulated game Monday before starting next Saturday in Philadelphia.

"Everything has gone well," said Bradley, the club's No 1 prospect who is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four starts this season. "I've healed up even quicker than I thought I would, so things are going in the right direction. The cuts inside my mouth have healed up. That's where a lot of the pain was. My teeth are starting to come back to normal and the swelling has gone down."

In other injury news, left-hander Patrick Corbin, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, is scheduled to throw four innings in an extended spring game Monday.

Video: Corbin anxious to get back on the mound

If that goes well, Corbin is likely headed for a rehab assignment beginning at Class A Advanced Visalia.

Meanwhile reliever David Hernandez, also recovering from Tommy John surgery, has bounced back from having one of his extended spring outings being changed to a bullpen session due some soreness.

Hernandez threw a bullpen session Wednesday and will pitch in an extended spring game Saturday and after that he, too, could be sent on a rehab assignment.

Third baseman Jake Lamb, who was put on the disabled list April 21 with a stress reaction in his left foot will be out a little longer than initially thought.

When he went on the DL, the team said he could possibly return in as little as three weeks, but though his rehab has gone well, it appears that timeline was a little aggressive.

"I think it's a little longer than we thought originally," said D-backs manager Chip Hale, who said the initial estimate was probably off by a week to 10 days.

Finally, catcher Oscar Hernandez, who had his hamate bone removed in March, could be back before the end of May.