Cobb is on track to return earlier, perhaps in May
PEORIA, Ariz. — Some of the San Francisco Giants’ pitching plans for the start of this season have been marred by injury this spring. But one previously injured arm could be healthy and pitching again sooner than expected.
Alex Cobb wasn’t projected to return to the mound following his hip surgery until midseason. A little extra work in the offseason has the 36-yearold starter set to pitch his first live bullpen Monday and on track for a return to the mound potentially well before the AllStar break.
Manager Bob Melvin didn’t rule out a return to game action by May, but the team is being careful.
“We have to be cognizant that there is a timeline,” Melvin said. “From the time I’ve seen him here it’s looked awfully good and he keeps progressing and throwing all his pitches. It looks like he’s in game mode now, but the short answer is that we’ve probably sped it up a little bit.”
Cobb is set to pitch his first live batting practice on Monday and previously threw a pair of 25-pitch sessions in which he used all of his pitches. An AllStar last season, he was expected not to pitch for at least six months following surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip in November, but Cobb found a few exercises in the offseason that helped keep his arm strength up despite physical limitations.
“I definitely feel great and feel like I was able to do a good job of keeping my arm in shape throughout the rehab,” Cobb said. “That’s allowed me to jump a little bit quicker than expected.”
Cobb’s offseason workouts had him first balanced on an exercise ball throwing weighted plyo-balls against the wall. Soon he graduated to throwing from his knees, then to one knee.
“I was doing it real easy to make sure my arm is going through the motion and not creating any scar tissue to bind it down,” Cobb said.
Cobb’s expedited return could lessen the Giants’ urgency to add another starter — say, Blake Snell or another pitcher in free agency — before the season begins. Until his return, Mason Black and Spencer Howard are among a long list of pitchers in camp vying for a rotation spot to start the season.
Elsewhere on the injury report: Austin Slater was slotted as designated hitter against the San Diego Padres on Friday night, but the game was rained out. Slater, who underwent elbow surgery in October, has yet to play in the outfield after experiencing a minor setback with his surgically repaired elbow this spring. Slater is still expected to be healthy for Opening Day, Melvin said.
Right-hander Kai-Wei Teng, out since the start of camp with an oblique strain, was scheduled to throw 20 pitches in a live batting practice on Saturday. The 25-year-old prospect is a candidate to compete for a starting role this season.
Keaton Winn, another righthander in competition for a rotation job, also was scheduled to throw a 20-pitch live batting practice on Saturday. He’s yet to pitch in a Cactus League game as he works back from right elbow soreness.
Reliever Ryan Walker has been shut down temporarily after feeling “a little something” in his elbow. He hasn’t pitched since Feb. 29, but the issue isn’t considered serious and no imaging was done.