TEMPE, Ariz. -- Shohei Ohtani said Saturday he’s excited he’s progressed to soft-toss drills as part of his rehab from Tommy John surgery, but isn’t sure when he’ll take the next step of taking batting practice.

Ohtani, who underwent the surgery on Oct. 1 and will be limited to designated-hitter duty this season, began taking soft toss Friday after a week of hitting off a tee. He hit 15 balls off a tee and 20 balls during soft toss on Saturday and is encouraged by how he’s feeling.

“Everything is going well, so far,” Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. “The biggest thing is that I’m checking to see if there is any pain or discomfort in my elbow. That’s my main focus.”

Ohtani said he’s felt no pain during his swings in recent weeks, which is a good sign for the reigning American League Rookie of the Year. The Angels have targeted a return in May, which could be a conservative estimate based on his current progression. But Ohtani declined to give a clearer timeline on when he’ll be ready.

“It’s hard to say when,” Ohtani said. “I can’t really tell you. But everything has been going really well, so far. Very smooth. Ultimately, it’ll be up to the manager, the GM and the front office. I’m just going to try to be ready whenever they call me.”

Angels manager Brad Ausmus said the club will continue to be cautious with Ohtani, who has yet to start a throwing program, but is working toward returning as a two-way player again in 2020.

"It's a step going from tee work to toss, but it's not an enormous step,” Ausmus said. “The bigger step is going up to hitting in the cage and on the field, and going from batting practice on the field against live pitching."

Bour homers in debut

First baseman Justin Bour, who was held out of action early in camp because of a strained hamstring, made his Cactus League debut in the Angels' 11-2 win over the Reds on Saturday and promptly crushed a two-run homer in his second at-bat off right-hander Luis Castillo. Bour’s homer to right field was hit of out Goodyear Stadium.

"I didn't really watch it too much," Bour said of the homer. "But I think it was a culmination of all the work I put in during the offseason. I got here about a month before Spring Training and there's been some things I've been working on, so it was good to see that. It came from a lot of work."

Bour, who was signed to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million this offseason, is expected to split time at first base and DH with Albert Pujols early in the season until Ohtani is ready to return. Once Ohtani is back, the Angels will play Bour and Pujols at first base, based on production and matchups.

Pujols, Lucroy play in ‘B’ game

After not playing in the previous two Cactus League games, the Angels made sure to get Pujols some at-bats Saturday, as he played in a "B" game against the D-backs. He led off the first few innings against D-backs right-hander Zack Greinke, popping out and grounding back to the pitcher.

Jonathan Lucroy, who caught Matt Harvey’s two-inning start, fared better, as he homered to left field off Greinke in his first at-bat.

“It was a fastball right over the middle," Lucroy said. "I've seen him enough, but it's nice to put a good swing on the ball."

Up next

Reliever Daniel Hudson will get the start Sunday, when the Angels host the A’s at Tempe Diablo Stadium at 12:10 p.m. PT. The game will air on MLB.TV. Hudson, who was signed to a Minor League deal in February, is competing for a spot in the bullpen. He’s allowed one run on a solo homer in one inning this spring. Hudson, 31, posted a 4.11 ERA with 44 strikeouts, 18 walks and six homers allowed in 46 innings with the Dodgers last season.