SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto reached a key milestone on Tuesday, throwing his first bullpen session since undergoing Tommy John surgery in August.

Manager Bruce Bochy said Cueto threw 25 pitches off the mound without incident.

“All went well,” Bochy said. “It was his first time off the mound. I’m sure he was excited.”

Cueto stayed behind at the Giants’ facility in Scottsdale, Ariz., to continue rehabbing his arm and has enjoyed a smooth recovery so far. The 33-year-old veteran is expected to miss most of the 2019 campaign, though the Giants are hoping he’ll be able to return to pitch in the Majors before the end of the season.

“We’re still looking at the same possibility, toward the end of the year,” Bochy said.

“We’ll do what makes sense there. But he’s come along very nicely. Part of that is he’s really working his tail off with the routine, the rehab and not missing any time. He looks determined to get back sooner than later.”

Panda update

Right knee inflammation prevented Pablo Sandoval from swinging right-handed in Monday’s 3-2 win over the Dodgers, but Bochy said Sandoval’s feeling better and will be available in an unrestricted capacity off the bench for the rest of the series. Sandoval will likely to sit out Wednesday’s finale against Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu, but he could return to action when the Giants face the Reds on Friday.