Bochy gets Belt update direct from source

SAN FRANCISCO -- Are you curious about Brandon Belt's recovery from his broken left thumb?

If you answered yes, you have something in common with manager Bruce Bochy.

Belt took ground balls for the second consecutive day Tuesday. He can't throw yet, but he's started to do some one-arm swings.

So, Bruce, when do you think he can start throwing?

Good question.

"Uh, Brandon," Bochy said Tuesday, leaning to his right in the direction of Belt, who was hanging out in the corner of the dugout, "how long before you start throwing?"

Laughter (and an answer) ensued.

"Probably sometime toward the end of next week," Belt said. "That's a guess. Kind of an educated guess."

Belt was hitting .264 with nine home runs and 18 RBIs in 35 games before a pitch broke his left thumb May 9 against the Dodgers. Belt had four stabilizing pins inserted the following week. Those pins were removed late last week.

Bochy said Monday that Belt was likely two to three weeks away from returning.