Dodgers get a look at where Dustin May, others stand in rehab process

PHOENIX — It was futures day at Chase Field on Tuesday.

Rehabbing pitchers Dustin May, Victor Gonzalez and Danny Duffy all joined the Dodgers in Phoenix, moving their respective rehabs across the valley from Camelback Ranch for the day. May and Gonzalez threw bullpen sessions.

May found himself with more excitement over a 25-pitch bullpen session than he ever thought possible.

“I didn’t think I ever would be but I am now,” he said. “Just getting back to actually being on the mound is a good feeling.”

May threw off a mound for the first time since his Tommy John surgery on April 1 as the Dodgers were concluding their spring training stay in Arizona. He has thrown two bullpen sessions a week since then. Tuesday was his ninth and the first to include more than fastballs. He also threw his cutter on Tuesday and will take another step in the long, slow recovery from the ligament-replacement surgery on Friday when he devotes the throwing session to curveballs.

“Getting close, yeah,” he said of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. “Starting to throw breaking balls feels more normal. Getting back on the mound feels like getting back in the swing of things.”

The next major step – facing hitters in live batting practice sessions – is still a month away with a rehab assignment somewhere beyond that.

“Facing hitters will be the biggest milestone, I would think, because that’s when you get the adrenaline back,” May said. “You have to get somebody out in front of you. You have to make sure your pitches are actually where you want them to be. So that’s probably the biggest milestone.”

Being able to focus on each step in the rehab process – and not be focused on the ones after that – has helped May get through it so far.

“I’m a lot more patient than I thought I was going to be,” he said. “Going through the rehab, knowing that it was a long process, I thought I was going to be very impatient, wanting to get going. … It’s been very easy on the mind because I knew going into it.”

The Dodgers have targeted the second half of the season for May’s potential return and are still planning to build him up to return as a starter – a more extended process than if he returned in a bullpen role.

“It excites me. There was a good contingent representing us watching Dustin, which obviously speaks to our excitement,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s going to be a weapon. We’ll build him up to be a starter and as he continues to check boxes and get through his progression, having him here in the summer is going to be a big thing.”

Meanwhile, Gonzalez continues to rehab from elbow inflammation that landed him on the injured list to start the season.

“It was fastball, slider,” Roberts said of Gonzalez’s throwing session. “I think he had to be in the mid-90s somewhere with good command today. So not on (rehab) assignment yet. I don’t know when that’s gonna start, but he should be close to going out on assignment and expect him back at some point.”

Duffy, meanwhile, has just begun his throwing program after having flexor tendon surgery last fall. The Dodgers are hopeful that he can return in a bullpen role at some point in midseason.

KAHNLE CLOSE

Right-hander Tommy Kahnle is much closer to returning from his Tommy John surgery and could join the Dodgers as soon as next week.

Kahnle has made six rehab appearances, three each with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and Triple-A Oklahoma City. Roberts said Kahnle is scheduled to pitch again Wednesday and Thursday. Pitching in back-to-back games is the final box to check in his rehab.

PIAZZA MAN

Will Smith hit the 50th home run of his career in Monday’s game, the 233rd game of his major-league career. Another Dodgers catcher – Hall of Famer Mike Piazza – also hit his 50th home run in his 233rd big-league game (back in 1994).

According to ESPN Stats and Info, the two are tied for the fastest 50 home runs by a catcher in National League history.