LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Reliever Jonny Venters and starter Gavin Floyd each had Tommy John elbow surgery in May, and both were upbeat and optimistic about their recoveries Thursday on reporting day for Braves pitchers and catchers.
Venters had a torn ulnar collateral ligament repaired via TJ surgery for the second time of his career on May 16, and Floyd had Tommy John and flexor-tendon surgery May 8.
“So far, so good,” said Venters, who has been long-tossing from 120 feet for the past couple of weeks. “I couldn’t ask to feel any better. Ball’s coming out good, my arm feels ‘lifey.’”
Venters hasn’t thrown from the mound yet. Since it was his second Tommy John surgery – the other was seven years earlier in the minors – the Braves have said all along that it could require a little longer than the usual 12-month rehab.
“I think the goal is a year,” he said. “But I think that they’re planning for a little more time just because it’s my second one. There’s no telling how it’ll respond. But as of right now, I’m on pace and I think the program was a 12-month program, so that puts me at the end of May, early June. I think we’re just playing it by ear.”
Floyd has been throwing from the mound since early January, and his last four bullpen sessions have been 70-75 pitches. He threw 75 pitches including change-ups Thursday, and will mix in curveballs for the first time in his next session Sunday.
“Just another checkpoint, a good checkpoint,” said Floyd, a former 17-game winner who went 0-4 with a 5.18 ERA in four starts for the White Sox last season before surgery. “I’m excited. I feel real positive about how things are coming along rehab-wise. To be with a very competitive team, a new chapter, and excited to spend time with these guys and get to know them, and also hopefully be a key to the success of this team.”
Floyd again declined to put a specific target date on his return.
“If everything goes well, they said May-ish,” he said. “So, I don’t know if it’s going to be longer than that, or possibly shorter. I’m not sure. But 75 pitches is where I’m at. I feel real good. Fun to throw changeups, and Sunday throw curveballs. It’s exciting, it truly is.”
