Braves reliever Jonny Venters will begin throwing bullpen sessions on the team’s upcoming road trip. It is a step forward in the left-hander’s rehab from a second ligament-replacement surgery.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said the exact details of the bullpen sessions are still to be worked out. However, he is encouraged by Venters recent progress. He figured Venters would begin by throwing between 10 and 20 pitches from a mound in the sessions.
There is no timetable for Venters to return.
“Best case scenario is get him on to the next (step of rehab),” Gonzalez said. “Just keep building off of that.”
It has been 14 months since Venters underwent a second Tommy John elbow surgery and a month since a platelet-rich plasma injection following a setback. Venters began light tossing last week. He threw from 100 feet Friday. The Braves don’t expect any pain or inflammation that would hinder the planned bullpen sessions.
“I don’t foresee anything,” Gonzalez said. “He said he felt great.”
Venters has battled elbow soreness during his recovery, the reason for the PRP injection. He said he has felt improvement since the procedure.
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