Now Playing
Share Video
Link copied!

As the Rays took the field Monday to play in the wild-card-game deciding contest against the Rangers in Texas, injured pitcher Jeff Niemann (shoulder) met with the team, MLB.com reports.

Niemann said he hopes to be ready for spring training. He underwent surgery in early April to repair the labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Niemann believes he's ahead of schedule in his recovery right now.

Niemann said he hopes to be in someone's opening day rotation next season.

"The way things are going," Niemann said, "the timetable really looks well for next year."