Report: Lincecum's recovery ahead of schedule, planning showcase in January

Tim Lincecum has plenty riding on his recovery from hip surgery, and according to a report, his rehab process has been going swimmingly thus far.

Yahoo Sports reports that Lincecum, who has become a free agent after nine seasons with the San Francisco Giants, has been working diligently on his rehab in Scottsdale, Ariz.

"While hip surgery isn't a career killer, proper rehabilitation is paramount, and Lincecum wanted no shortcuts on his path to regaining his past glory," the report reads.

Although he notched a 69-41 record with a 2.98 ERA and 1,127 strikeouts in 1,028 innings in his first five seasons with the Giants from 2007-11, Lincecum has struggled to find consistency over the past four years, mainly due to a drop-off in velocity on his fastball.

From 2012 to 2015, the two-time Cy Young winner compiled a 39-42 record with a 4.68 ERA and 577 strikeouts over 615 2/3 innings.

Now a free agent after nine seasons with the same club, which selected him in the first round of the 2006 amateur draft, Lincecum's rehab holds major bearing on the future of his career.

"Multiple executives told Yahoo Sports they have interest in Lincecum," the report reads, "though it comes with a caveat: The level of that interest depends on how he heals."

The report states that the 31-year-old righty is currently ahead of the typical five months it takes to recover from an arthroscopic hip surgery like the one he had in September.

Unless a team offers Lincecum a contract within the next couple months, he plans on hosting a showcase event in January for scouts and executives.

"The possibility of blowing away scouts and executives with a fully healed body excites the 31-year-old, according to people familiar with his recovery," the report reads.