Rays’ Matt Moore in Fort Myers

FORT MYERS, Fla.- A Tampa Bay Rays All-Star was in Southwest Florida on Thursday.

Pitcher Matt Moore made his second rehab start against the Red Sox extended spring training team since recovering from Tommy-John surgery last April.

Moore said he was still learning more about his arm and where he needs to be in order to rejoin the Rays.

Thursday’s lesson came with a bruise.

Moore was hit in the chest by a line drive during today’s game. He says it was a painful blessing in disguise.

“The ball back up the middle kind of woke me up a little bit,” said Moore.

Moore hasn’t pitched in a full-speed, big-league game since last April.

“Getting back to the speed of play, those types of things are very beneficial to me, ” said Moore.

“It helps just being back out there and having to make the reactions.”

The 2013 All-Star looked solid in his outing. He struck out three and gave up one run while surrendering just two hits in three innings of work.

“My arm definitely feels like I’m in a good place,” said Moore.

“I’m still in the strengthening and building back up phase. For being a little over 13 months I think we’re right where we need to be.”

Moore is hoping to re-join the Rays rotation as early as mid-June.