Fernandez continues progress in rehab start

Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez took another step in his rehab from Tommy John surgery on Monday night, throwing 90 pitches in a Minor League game with Miami's Class A affiliate in Jupiter, Fla.

According to The Associated Press, Fernandez said he had "no pain" after the outing -- his fourth rehab assignment -- which came against the St. Lucie Mets.

Fernandez threw seven innings, giving up four hits and one run while striking out nine. He's expected to start for Double-A Jacksonville on Saturday before returning to the Marlins' rotation on July 2.

"This start did a lot of good things for my mind," Fernandez told the AP. "My pitch count ... for sure, it's feeling better and better all the time."

According to the AP report, Fernandez hit 98 mph on the radar gun twice, and hit 97 in his final inning. He threw 69 of his pitches for strikes.

The 22-year-old former National League Rookie of the Year Award winner last pitched for Miami on May 9 of last year, experienced elbow pain and had surgery a week later. He is 16-8 with a 2.25 ERA in his career (36 starts).