“He looked he could pitch in an actual game today, he was that good,” Maddon said. “Velocity on fastball was way up there, slider, changeup – everything was outstanding. I thought he looked ready to go.”

It was originally thought that Price would need to make three rehab starts; however, with the way he has looked during his bullpen sessions and now during the simulated game, that number may be decreasing. Perhaps a part of this is a bit of desperation as the Rays look to remain in contention in the American League East, although  it may be possible that the rest was all the Price needed. As it stands, barring a setback, Price may be back in the rotation sooner than anticipated.

All-Star rosters still won’t be announced for a while yet, but the Rays already have one person that will be part of the festivities in New York. Ron Porterfield was named as a member of the American League side, and will be a part of the July 16th game at Citi Field.

Finally, Vince Belnome was named the Rays MiLB Player for May, as he .345, with 15 RBIs and scoring another 15 runs. Congratulations to Vince on winning this award.

Which was harder for Rays fans to endure, Price’s struggles in the first month and a half of the season or his absence since the middle of May? No matter how cynical fans could be, they knew that as long as Price was on a mound he was going to turn himself around. He was just too good. Fans saw the flashes of the pitcher that is right up there among the best and baseball and every successful start they were convinced that he had finally broken through. When Price proceeded to fall apart again, fans just shook our heads and kept waiting. It was frustrating and everyone’s patience was starting to run thin, yet there was a sense of cautious optimism knowing that it was only a matter of time before Price reverted back to the pitcher he’s capable of being. But then he hit the disabled list and all the optimism evaporated.

For a few days, there was a sense of panic among Rays fans–how would the Rays survive without David Price? But that panic was replaced by the excitement of the pitchers who would take Price’s rotation spot. Jake Odorizzi came up and gave the Rays their first return on the James Shields trade. Alex Colome tossed 5.2 electrifying innings to blow away the Miami Marlins. Then came Chris Archer, the prodigal son finally home and ready to deliver on the potential he showed last season. For Odorizzi, it was continuously repeated that he was replacing Price’s rotation spot, but after that Price left the equation. He wasn’t there and these young pitchers were. He was irrelevant. Which was tougher for Price, the agony of his struggles before he went down or the fans’ apathy over his absence as his replacements stole the show?

Who is more desperate for Price to return to action, Price or the Rays? Price is sick and tired of his weakness, his incapability to make a difference. He’s had enough of fading into the background after being the center of attention for so long. He wants to prove to himself and everyone else that he remains a frontline pitcher and is worth every penny of the 10.1125 million dollars he’s making this season. He just wants to do something and do it at the earliest possible second. The Rays have graver concerns. They need Price to stabilize their rotation and reemerge as one of the top trade chips in baseball following the season. But while Price has been gone, they have kept going. Price has just been stuck on the sidelines. While Price was out, he got to experience just how lucky he is to be a major league baseball pitcher and how quickly it all can end. He struggled through the torpor of the fans and itched to prove that he’s deserving of their renewed admiration, his contract, and of the position he finds himself in as the ace of what has been one of the best pitching teams his baseball. He has never been more desperate to get on a mound. And his desperation will be what drives him to return to the major leagues with alacrity and come back as the same pitcher he was last season, only now with something to prove.

“Honestly, I’m totally as if [the injury] never happened. I feel that good right now,” Price said. “This is the best I’ve felt all year long, including Spring Training. It feels 100 percent right now.”

What is of interest from Price’s quote is how he stated that this is the best he has felt all year long, including Spring Training. Given his struggles at the start of the year, there was reason to speculate that perhaps Price was hiding an injury as it was. Perhaps, in his quest to be even better than he was last season, Price pushed himself too hard at the start of camp, and just tried to work through the pain, until he aggravated the injury that night. Even though he didn’t specifically say that he was injured, Price did state that he did not feel right.

“It didn’t bother me until really that game. I definitely felt other things, but it was nothing that limited the way that I pitch. I just wasn’t making good enough pitches,” Price said. “If that affects my ability to make pitches, then it did affect me. I don’t think that was the case. I just wasn’t very good at the time, so I feel very good right now.”

Given how Price has not exactly denied that he was trying to pitch through an injury, the Rays cautious approach with his rehab makes even more sense. Although Price stated that he felt that he could pitch in a game on Monday, the Rays are planning on having Price throw another bullpen session, then a simulated game before he embarks on a minor league rehab assignment. If everything goes well, it is thought that Price could rejoin the Rays either later this month or in the beginning part of July.

Having David Price back, and healthy, will be a major key to the Rays postseason hopes. If he comes back in top form, and is close to the same pitcher he has been since 2010, then Price may be able to help push the Rays back to the playoffs. Now, the Rays just need to make sure that this Price is right.