Ray returns to D-Backs for 1st time since taking liner to head

Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Robbie Ray was on his way toward the finest season of his career, and one of the National League's best, until a screaming liner to the head put the southpaw on the disabled list for nearly a month.

Ray will return to the mound Thursday against the New York Mets after spending time on the seven-day concussion DL. Ray underwent a CT scan, which returned normal, after getting hit in July by Luke Voit of the St. Louis Cardinals and now appears ready to get back to work.

"I'm ready to get back out there," Ray told MLB.com's Chris Bumbaca.

Before the scary incident, the 25-year-old Ray appeared in his first All-Star game and had accumulated 151 strikeouts in 118 2/3 innings, while posting a 9-5 record for the Diamondbacks, who are in playoff contention.