ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Alex Cobb threw live batting practice Sunday at Tropicana Field, the latest development in his recovery from a mild concussion.
The session for the Tampa Bay Rays right-hander, which occurred before the series finale between the Rays and Houston Astros, lasted about 30 minutes and included about 40 pitches against outfielder Sam Fuld and equipment manager Chris Westmoreland. Cobb chose to throw without a screen protecting him to make the experience as game-like as possible.
He said he plans to throw another live batting practice session Thursday in Port Charlotte, Fla., where the Rays' spring training facility is located.
"Once batters get in there, the intensity goes up a little bit," Cobb said. "Body parts start flying around in different directions that you're not used to. It takes a little while to get settled down. I felt toward the end of my session, it got a lot better. I was happy with it."
Cobb, who has been on the concussion disabled list since June 16, called returning to the mound a "relief." He has not appeared in a game since a line drive off the bat of the Kansas City Royals' Eric Hosmer struck him on the right ear June 15.
"You remember to lift your leg, you remember to put your arm in a throwing motion," Cobb said. "But there's another level that we have to pitch at. It's tough to get that back to that crisp major-league performance that we do on a day-to-day basis."
Cobb, 25, is 6-2 with a 3.01 ERA in 13 starts this season.
You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford
or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.
