Ohtani could start taking BP soon

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Shohei Ohtani has continued to make progress with his rehab from Tommy John surgery and said Saturday that he believes he could start taking batting practice in roughly a week.

Ohtani, who underwent the operation on Oct. 1 and is expected to return in May as a designated hitter, has been throwing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday since March 8, and has been participating in soft-toss hitting drills since March 1. He’s been hitting off a tee and taking soft toss for more than two weeks, and the next progression will be a coach throwing him batting practice in the cages.

“My best guess would be in about a week or so, but I haven’t been told anything yet," Ohtani said through his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. "So I'm just focusing on what is in front of me.”

Ohtani will also travel with the club when the Angels head home next Saturday for the start of the three-game Freeway Series against the Dodgers from March 24-26. He’s expected to continue his rehab there when the Angels open the season on the road in Oakland and Seattle.

Ohtani, who will not pitch this season, has been throwing from out to 50 feet, but said he’s been keeping it at a low intensity. Ramping up his hitting remains his priority.

“I’ve been keeping it at 30 percent [effort],” Ohtani said. “No reason to rush. That’s what the trainers have been telling me.”

Cahill satisfied with outing

Right-hander Trevor Cahill was solid in the Angels' 7-2 loss to the Indians on Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits over four innings. He got his pitch count up to 78 and was pleased with his developing cutter, as he used it against both righties and lefties.

"I felt a little erratic the first couple innings, but I was able to settle in and work back down in the zone as the game went on," Cahill said. "I definitely feel good. I'm just looking forward to one more and then I'll be ready to go."

Angels make roster moves

The Angels optioned second baseman Luis Rengifo and lefty Dillon Peters to Triple-A Salt Lake, and reassigned catcher Jack Kruger, reliever Jeremy Rhoades and two-way player Jared Walsh to Minor League camp. Additionally, Luke Bard was added to the 40-man roster, with Keynan Middlelton being moved to the 60-day injured list.

The moves essentially mean that David Fletcher won the job at second base, and that the rotation is likely to be made up of Cahill, Matt Harvey, Tyler Skaggs, Jaime Barria and Felix Pena until Andrew Heaney is ready to return from his elbow inflammation. Bard still has Minor League options so it doesn't mean he'll make the team, but he has a solid chance because he's pitched well this spring.

Injury updates

Justin Upton (right knee tendinitis) and Zack Cozart (left calf strain) both participated in Minor League games on Sunday to get eight plate appearances each. It was Upton’s third straight day playing on the Minor League side and Cozart’s second. Both are expected play in a Cactus League game in a few days.

Right-hander Nick Tropeano (shoulder) is scheduled to throw off a mound on Tuesday for the first time this spring. He’ll throw only fastballs.

Angels recognize award winners

The Angels recognized the winners of their 2018 Minor League awards before Saturday's game, including a new award named in honor of Aaron Cox (the brother-in-law of Mike Trout), who died last year and was a former Angels Minor Leaguer. Trout and his wife, Jessica, were both on the field for the presentation of the Aaron Cox Award, which is given to the best teammate. Right-hander Jeremy Beasley was the first recipient.

“It means a lot,” Trout said. “Obviously, I was real close with him. It was special when they asked me to go out there and present it with Jess. It meant a lot to us. It was good for our family and, obviously, Aaron.”

Up next

Harvey (0-0, 10.38 ERA) will take the mound for the Angels on Sunday, when they travel to face the Padres in Peoria at 1:10 p.m. PT. Harvey could be the Opening Day starter for the Angels, as Skaggs and Heaney have both dealt with injuries this spring. Skaggs is likely to be in the rotation to start the year, but might not be fully stretched out to 100 pitches, while Heaney remains shut down.