Small schools in Arizona can have a hard time putting together an athletic program capable of fulfilling the needs of the student-athlete to show their skills against other schools.

A month after going down with a right flexor pronator strain, Tanner Houck is nearing a return. Alex Cora delivered a positive update on Friday after Houck completed an up-and-down session.

Tanner Houck (still on the IL), whose rehab is inching forward at a slower than expected pace, had been hard-pressed to find the same success he threw to last season, when he posted a 3.12 ERA.