SARASOTA, Fla. -- Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman threw a 25-pitch bullpen session with no hip pain on Tuesday, and the right-hander said he "felt great" afterward.
Tillman, who was scratched from Sunday's intrasquad game, was relieved that Tuesday's session went well and that he was able to throw at regular speed with no discomfort. Tillman will likely repeat that scenario later in the week, and with the team being extra cautious, he probably won't get into a Grapefruit League game until next week.
In fact, manager Buck Showalter said that Tillman -- along with new acquisition Yovani Gallardo -- could see game action next Wednesday or Thursday (March 9-10). Showalter added that Tillman would still receive a cortisone shot on Tuesday as a precaution.
"[The team's medical staff is] a little smarter at it than me, because I would have liked to pitch already," said Tillman. "But I get it. I think it's safe, because it is so early. [It's] the right thing to do."
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Tillman, who first felt the discomfort on Thursday, said he woke up on Tuesday feeling better. Running and throwing off flat ground has never been an issue, and he's only missed pitchers' fielding practice and team defense.
"I'll probably throw a bullpen [again] and get up and down a few times and simulate that game I would have pitched in, the intrasquad game," Tillman said of his next step. "But I don't see any problem with it unless we have another setback, which I don't see happening."