SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — When Robbie Ray and Alex Cobb arrived at spring training, they each set milestones they hoped to hit in their respective rehabs by the time they began to pack up the equipment trucks for the trek north.
Coming back from offseason hip surgery, Cobb wanted to face live batters, typically the final step before getting into game action. Ray, who had multiple surgeries on his elbow, had a more modest goal — pitching off the mound — that reflected the more invasive nature of his procedures.
Check. And check.
On Monday, Cobb threw about 25 pitches in a live batting practice session at Scottsdale Stadium. Ray also threw about 25 pitches off the bullpen mound.
“It feels really good,” Ray said, nearly 12 months after the last time he pitched off a mound. “Kept the velo where they wanted me to, which is kind of difficult to do because you just feel so good, right? But just understanding that it’s a process and trusting the process. I think I threw like 22 out of 25 strikes, so pretty happy with that.”
Ray had surgeries to repair the flexor tendon, as well as the ulnar collateral ligament, in his left elbow. The latter procedure is commonly known as Tommy John and comes with a long and intense rehab. Ray, who had the operation last May, said the latest milestone puts him on track for the 14-month timetable set at the start of the process, which would place his return sometime around the All-Star break.
“Understanding the journey is not over, there’s still a good leg of it left. But excited to be on this part of the journey, for sure,” Ray said. “I’d say this is right where I want to be.”
The real reason for optimism in the clubhouse, where starting pitchers have been dropping like flies, surrounds Cobb.
His progression to facing live hitters came barely four-and-half months after he had surgery to repair a torn labrum and impingement in his left hip.
When the pitchers reported for camp, the timeline for Cobb’s return was thought to be closer to Ray’s than to Opening Day. Now, the 36-year-old right-hander is entering the final stage of his rehab — the typical six-week build-up for starting pitchers — and could be activated by the start of May.
“He’s a special human,” Ray said in regards to Cobb’s age-defying recovery. “That’s a big step in the rehab process. I think when he gets into an actual game and starts pitching against a different jersey, that’ll be a big step as well. But yesterday was a huge step for him.”
Miller, Ramos ‘hard’ cuts
The two most difficult cuts of the 11 the Giants made Monday, manager Bob Melvin said, were left-hander Erik Miller and outfielder Heliot Ramos.
Melvin has expressed a desire to carry at least two lefties in his bullpen, and Miller, 26, was one of four left-handed relief options in camp in addition to Taylor Rogers. The move to minor-league camp, however, doesn’t necessarily rule him out from the Opening Day roster, according to Melvin.
“That one seems a little bit harsh and early, and it did for us as well,” Melvin said. “I thought he was good (in his three appearances). Coming into camp, it looked like he was one of the guys vying for one of these jobs. Now, we’ll see where it goes from here. It’s kind of tough to explain, but as of right now he’s at minor-league camp.”
Ramos, 24, will receive more at-bats with the minor-leaguers, Melvin said. He had two hits and five strikeouts in 16 at-bats in Cactus League play.
“He is such a great kid,” Melvin said. “First-round pick of this organization, always seems like he’s right on the verge. Loved what I saw right away in camp. Played some winter ball. The at-bats that he needs right now are probably going to come more significantly there than here. For a guy like him he needs consistent at-bats.”
Melvin ‘feeling out’ Davis situation
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The Giants’ offloading of J.D. Davis — using a clause in the collective bargaining agreement to pocket most of his $6.9 million salary in the process — is a sensitive topic in the clubhouse, where players granted anonymity to speak freely recognized the improvement to the roster but questioned the cutthroat method.
It is, perhaps, Melvin’s first challenge in how he will manage relationships with his players.
“I’ve talked to a couple guys about it. I’m feeling that one out a little bit,” he said Tuesday, a day after Davis was released. “Look, (Matt) Chapman was talked about all offseason. Is it a perfect fit? Probably not, because we did have J.D. I think that’s why it looks kind of strange the way it is.
“But we talked all along about improving our infield defense, and with he and Nick (Ahmed) right now, it is a lot better, even though J.D. is a terrific player and I wish him the best and I hope he hooks on with a good team where he has the opportunity to play everyday. Because he has that skillset. It was just unfortunate the way it went down, but you could kind of see the Chapman thing coming. And if it didn’t, then J.D. would have been a prominent part of this thing.”