Today was a big day for Angels right-hander Garrett Richards, as he threw his first bullpen session since undergoing surgery last August to repair a torn left patellar tendon.
Richards only threw 20 pitches -- all fastballs -- from the stretch, but Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher told Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register that he “looked good, felt good.” Good enough.
Richards will be behind the other pitchers in camp, so he’s no sure thing to meet his goal of being ready for Opening Day, but the Angels aren’t going to rush things here. Getting him back in mid-April or so would still be a pretty nice outcome all things considered.
Richards, 26, is coming off a breakout 2014 where he posted a 2.61 ERA and 164/51 K/BB ratio in 168 2/3 innings over 26 starts.
