WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Astros right-hander Collin McHugh threw off the mound Monday for the first time this spring, throwing 25-30 pitches in the bullpen. McHugh said he was experiencing dead arm early in camp, and he has been eased into his throwing program. He said he threw at about 65-70 percent effort.
"Everything felt good, body-wise," McHugh said. "It's going to take a few to get my feel of a release point and get all my pitches working. Today, it was mostly just fastball and a couple of changeups. It was as good as you can hope for the first time off the hill."
McHugh said he'll throw off the mound three or four more times, including Wednesday, before facing hitters, but Monday was a good step forward.
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"The arm is starting to feel that little whip in it, starting to feel like you can let it go a little bit, which is nice," McHugh said. "If you've ever dealt with any kind of injury or any setback at all, sometimes the mental aspect of it, willing yourself to give it 100 percent, is the hardest part."
Worth noting
• Josh Reddick was back in left field Monday against the Red Sox. He's getting reacquainted with the position, which he will play when Jake Marisnick is in center field and George Springer is in right. Reddick, who will spend most of his time in right field, hasn't played in left in a big league game since 2011 with the A's.
"It's not going to come back naturally," Reddick said. "Any time I can get more reps out there, it's great. But at the same time, still keeping my reps in right. Even though I've been playing there forever, it still needs to be fine-tuned over there as well. I think we're going to have a good connection of moving back and forth."
Houston and Boston tied, 5-5, and Reddick went 1-for-2 with a walk.
• Catcher Evan Gattis, who had an anti-inflammatory injection early in camp because of a sore shoulder, played catch again on Tuesday and felt good, manager A.J. Hinch said. Gattis could get into a Grapefruit League game at catcher on Thursday or Friday. At designated hitter against the Red Sox, he recorded a sacrifice fly and a walk.