Morrow progressing after right shoulder injury

SAN DIEGO -- Right-hander Brandon Morrow said he will complete a bullpen session either Wednesday, but most likely Thursday, as he continues to recover from a right shoulder inflammation injury.

"I've been feeling great," Morrow said. "I think we have made really good progress. I feel strong this time around. No problems at all throwing, long toss and flat ground work. ...The first step is just getting on the mound and getting my feet underneath me. It will be like 30 fastballs just to get adjusted to the slope again. I have been playing catch and feeling good."

Morrow went on the 15-day disabled list on May 3 and then was transferred to the 60-day DL, the team announced on June 24. This injury has been a recurring one for Morrow, who spent some time with Double-A San Antonio for a rehab stint, where he experienced a flare-up after starting in the second of two games.

"That was frustrating," Morrow said." I am pretty confident in this time that you know it's not just not sore but actually stronger. Like I said, I am feeling great, and that's all I can say. I am getting off the mound in the next couple of days, so we'll know more then. I am fully confident everything will go well with that."

Before the 30-year-old went on the DL in May, he pitched 33 innings, winning two games with a 2.73 ERA.

Interim manager Pat Murphy said that it is too soon for a set schedule on Morrow's return, but "they have a tentative one in terms of three bullpens and a simulated and rehab assignment."

"We would love to have him," Murphy said. "When he regained his form from earlier in the season, from what I heard, he was really good. That will be exciting if we get him going."

Morrow said the focus of his recovery was on neuromuscular aspects and trying to control certain muscles to better stabilize the muscles of the shoulder.

"Without trying to get into too much detail about [his recovery routine] ... some smaller stuff, where I think it was a different muscle was compensating too much. So I think we kind of worked on those other muscles so everything is balanced and strong."

Murphy also spoke about the importance of making adjustments in order to return strong.

"You got to stay the course, that's the whole thing. He is a worker," Murphy said. "When you are dealing with a shoulder or an elbow, all the little things that go into that, all the muscles that go into that and how it affects the rest of your body, it's the little adjustments ... it's those little things that make all the difference in the world, which is why it takes a little bit longer to get yourself right. We would love to have him back."