MINNEAPOLIS -- Yovani Gallardo will play catch on Saturday, the first time the right-hander has picked up a baseball since going to the disabled list April 23 with right shoulder tendinitis last month.
Gallardo, who also had a cortisone injection, is eager to get going again but said he thought, in the end, the rehab process would "be worth it" when he gets back in the rotation.
"I've noticed a big difference in doing the exercises I've done for the past two, two-and-a-half weeks, and I'm going to get a couple of more times in before I get out there and throw," Gallardo said. "I can tell the difference. My shoulder's getting stronger, and it's going to be right where I need it to be when I get out there and play catch."
The Orioles haven't set a rehab schedule for Gallardo, but Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he thought Gallardo would probably throw on Saturday and Monday before they map things out.
"It's a matter of taking it one step at a time," Gallardo said. "The first step was getting the strength back, and I feel like I'm almost there. I've still got this week to get where I need to be and then playing catch and then we'll see what happens after that."