Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher Nathan Eovaldi is inching closer to returning to the majors, as he’ll begin a rehab assignment with the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Friday night.

Originally slated to be a member of the Rays starting rotation, Eovaldi was placed on the disabled list just prior to Opening Day due to loose bodies in his elbow. This news came as Eovaldi was slated to make his return to a big league roster, following a year and half long rehab process after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery.

Eovaldi signed a two-year deal with the Rays in February of 2017, after undergoing the surgery towards the end of the 2016 season.

After rehabbing throughout the 2017 season, Eovaldi could have joined the Rays in the month of September, but with the team out of contention, they chose instead to allow him extra time to rest his volatile arm.

This past spring, Eovaldi impressed as he routinely pitched in the high 90s and displayed a devastating slider. He was slated to be one of the top arms in the Rays four man rotation, before landing on the disabled list.

Eovaldi’s rehab assignment is a breath of fresh air for the Rays, who have lost two top pitching prospects for the season to Tommy John surgery and now Yonny Chirinos for at least a month as he recovers from a strained elbow.