ARLINGTON, Texas -- Colby Lewis visited with the training staff and his teammates briefly at Globe Life Park on Friday and was clearly thankful to be so close to possibly returning to the rotation.

Lewis hasn't been added to the roster yet, though he's expected to start Monday or Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners.

Colby Lewis is expected to be back in the Rangers rotation next week. Christian Petersen/Getty Images

"I do want to say thanks to Dr. (Keith) Meister for repairing the arm and also Dr. Edwin Su for making it happen to replace my hip and give me another chance to compete and another opportunity," Lewis said.

The 34-year-old right-handed starter pitched in a minor-league exhibition game and in a recent rehab start. In his last start, he allowed two runs on four hits in five innings of work with three walks and two strikeouts. He proclaimed himself ready to go.

"I feel like I’m able to go out there and be productive and get outs," Lewis said. "I feel good. I’m able to bounce back after bullpen sessions. That’s all I kind of really look for."

In some ways Lewis is the same pitcher he was before the injury. He has to hit his locations because he's not a hard thrower and he relies on out-thinking a hitter and grinding through innings. But he's also a bit different in that he's got an increased range of motion, which has required some adjustments to his mechanics.

"You change, of course, throughout the course of your career," Lewis said. "I definitely feel different. It’s just being able to adapt and figure out what you’ve got that day. That’s kind of the way I’ve run my career -- just adapting to how my body feels and what I’m going to be able to perform with that day."

Lewis said he's repeating his delivery and feels like it's consistent. Now he just looking forward to getting back on a major league mound for the first time since July 18, 2012 in Oakland.

"I want to get outs and be productive and I knew I could do that at the big-league level," Lewis said. "This is where I wanted to be, and it’s happened."