Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman faced live hitters for the first time Saturday morning, throwing 25-30 pitches in live batting practice at the team's spring training facility in Sarasota, Fla.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he remains cautiously optimistic with Tillman, who was previously shut down before getting to this point in his recovery last month. Tillman then received a cortisone injection before he was able to resume throwing.
"I don't know if you're ever going to feel like there's a point with Chris is completely (like), 'OK, he's done that, so everything's fine,'" Showalter said. "Each time he takes a work day and each time he throws, you _ not wonder _ but you're anxious to see how the feels the next day. I would really like to keep him in that environment as little as possible. I'm hoping after this two-inning stint, we can get him back in this environment."
Tillman's next step in his recovery from shoulder soreness will be throwing a two-inning extended spring game Tuesday, and Showalter said he hoped Tillman would be able to continue his rehabilitation with a major league affiliate after that, likely with Double-A Bowie.
"He's going to have to get built up," Showalter said. "We had a (radar) gun and we filmed it today. I'm not going to broadcast that, but he's not where he's gonna be or needs to be. So that's expected, especially at 10 o'clock in the morning with not a whole lot (going on). You've got to really be pushing in intensity level. You throw two innings there and hopefully his next outing is planning to be in a club."
Showalter said the club hopes to keep Tillman close when he begins pitching in minor league games, so he can work out in Baltimore between outings.
