PHOENIX -- Diamondbacks closer J.J. Putz was upbeat after a bullpen session Monday, and he appears to be making great progress toward a return before the end of the month.
“Getting close,” Putz said.
“Very excited.”
Putz, who has been on the disabled list sine May 8, said he threw his full repertoire in his first bullpen session since suffering a strained right ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He faced hitters for the first time late last week.
“I threw to hitters and felt good there. Felt really good today, free and easy,” Putz said.
The D-backs originally had planned to have Putz throw batting practice on Wednesday, but manager Kirk Gibson said they might skip that step and send Putz on a rehab assignment directly.
The Arizona League does not start until Friday, and the D-backs might not want to wait that long to get Putz in a game. He is likely to need several rehab appearances, although no timetable has been set.
Putz is enthusiastic that his return could be sooner rather than later.
“The biggest thing is, whenever that first game is going to be, what happens the next day. If I threw great that day, maybe I’ll be right back there,” Putz said.
Putz is 2-1 with five saves and a 4.26 ERA. He has four failed save conversions, although it became apparent that he was attempting to pitch through the injury before being removed after throwing two pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 7.
Heath Bell entered to save that game, and he has converted 10 of his 11 save opportunities since moving into the closer’s role.
Meanwhile, starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy, also on the disabled list, played catch at 105 feet and is expected to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Gibson said.
As expected, Randall Delgado will be recalled from Class AAA Reno to start Tuesday’s game against Miami, sliding into McCarthy’s spot in the starting rotation for at least one start.
Follow Jack Magruder on Twitter
