Buck Showalter updates Yovani Gallardo's bullpen session

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Orioles right-hander Yovani Gallardo took another step toward his return to the starting rotation today at Angel Stadium. He threw off a mound in a bullpen session for the first time since going on the disabled list April 23 with right shoulder tendinitis.

Gallardo had thrown from 120 feet on flat ground twice in Baltimore, but today was his first bullpen since the injury. Manager Buck Showalter watched part of the session before returning to his office and provided an update.

"It was going well," Showalter said. "He looked good, the ball was coming out good. We'll sit down with Wally (pitching coach Dave Wallace) and Richie (Bancells, head athletic trainer) and see where we are with the next step. Probably wait until tomorrow to see how he feels. It was encouraging. He had the whole pitching staff out there watching him. Pretty cool."

Showalter said he would not describe this as a milestone for Gallardo, but it was an important next step.

"I think milestone, I wouldn't describe it that deep," Showalter said. "It is a step in the process. Once he gets there, things kind of get moving. Once you are throwing to a catcher squatted down from a hill, from a big bump in the ground, that is what they do. I'm hoping to play a sim (simulated) game in Cleveland."

Showalter said it is not certain whether Gallardo would throw another bullpen session before moving on to a simulated game or just advance to throwing the sim game next.

"I'm going to want him (back) as soon as possible. I think he is going to pitch well for us the rest of the year. And next year," he added.

Showalter said the shoulder exercises Gallardo has been doing to rehab and build shoulder strength have served him well - and will continue to in the future.

"I've seen Richie take guys that had this issue and really get great results," Showalter said. "You can't rush it. Kind of like what happened with Kevin Gausman and a couple of other guys that I could kind of remind everyone of how they did, so I'm encouraged by it."

Gallardo is 1-1 with an ERA of 7.00 in four starts for the Orioles. He left his start April 22 in Kansas City after two innings due to shoulder discomfort. That led him to the disabled list and then to the rehab that has advanced the point he got back on the mound here this morning.