SAN FRANCISCO -- Johnny Cueto’s long road back from Tommy John surgery is nearly complete.

The 33-year-old veteran right-hander fired six scoreless innings in his sixth and final rehab start for Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday night and now feels he is ready to return to the Majors. Cueto’s next start is expected to be for the Giants, though the club has not yet decided when he will rejoin the rotation.

“I just hope that it’s going to be really good when it happens,” Cueto said Sunday. “I’m excited.”

Cueto hasn’t pitched for the Giants since July 28, 2018, and spent the last 13 months rehabbing from reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. Cueto was diagnosed with an elbow sprain last May and attempted to rehab the injury to avoid surgery, but the procedure became inevitable after he continued to feel discomfort.

Cueto spent the bulk of the season rehabbing at the Giants’ complex in Scottsdale, Ariz., and credited some of the younger Minor Leaguers with helping to keep him motivated throughout his tedious recovery.

“It’s a long road,” Cueto said. “You’ve got to work hard and be strong mentally. It hasn’t been easy, but look where I am now. “

Cueto’s arrival should help boost the Giants’ pitching staff down the stretch, as he’ll join fellow veterans Madison Bumgarner and Jeff Samardzija at the top of the club’s rotation. The two-time All-Star hopes to continue to strengthen his arm over the final month of the season and head into the offseason healthy.

“I want to feel better and do the job that I’ve always done,” Cueto said. “I want to finish this last month here and be ready for Spring Training.”

Bochy honored

Former Padres players Trevor Hoffman and Greg Vaughn and former San Diego GM Randy Smith visited Bruce Bochy before his final game against San Diego, where he managed for 12 seasons before moving to San Francisco.

The Giants have begun the process of celebrating Bochy’s final month before retirement, as they unveiled a “Thank you, Boch” placard on the left-field wall at Oracle Park after the first inning of Sunday’s series finale.