Hanrahan throwing, but yet to face hitters

DETROIT -- Neither Joel Hanrahan nor the Tigers had a timetable for the pitcher getting onto the mound in a Detroit uniform when he signed in early May amid his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Two months later, that uncertainty remains.

While Hanrahan continues to throw off a mound at the Tigers' Spring Training facility in Lakeland, Fla., he has not yet faced hitters -- either in live batting practice or simulated games.

Hanrahan threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Saturday, Tigers head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said.

The right-hander had his rehab process slowed last month to build up arm strength. It has been a reminder that while the recovery process for many pitchers has made elbow surgery look almost routine, it is anything but easy.

Hanrahan's contract has a $1 million base salary, with another $2 million in performance bonuses. Those bonuses depend at least in part on how many games he pitches as a Tiger.