SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Shohei Ohtani continues to make progress toward a return in May as designated hitter.
On Wednesday, Ohtani, who had Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1, stood in during Angels bullpen sessions, tracking pitches for the second consecutive day -- this time off Jaime Barria. He also took 40 swings off a tee, one day after taking 35 swings.
"I've been tracking off a machine, but seeing it off live arms from a pitcher really helps my timing and my follow-through," Ohtani said. “At this point, it's hard to tell if there's any effects because I still haven't stepped to the plate. I've been doing it since last year when I got my PRP shot, but I think it is helping."
Ohtani could move up to soft toss next week.
"I can't say for sure at this point what my next step will be, but I just need to focus on what's in front of me right now and keep on going with that," he said.
Cahill’s stretch
Trevor Cahill cruised through first inning on 13 pitches in his first Cactus League game against the Rockies on Wednesday.
He almost doubled that number in the second frame and never made it out of the inning. The Angels won, 9-7.
“The first inning went well, and the second inning didn’t go so well, but it’s just good to get out there and be in a competitive environment again,” Cahill said. “Once I started out of the stretch, it kind of threw me out of rhythm. It’s something I have been working on. I’m focusing on that and trying to get comfortable. I felt really good out of the windup.”
In the end, Cahill, who signed with the Angels on a one-year deal worth $9 million in December, was charged with five earned runs on two hits. He walked three and struck out one in his 38-pitch outing.
“We were trying to mix stuff in and work on some stuff and work on some sequences,” Cahill said. “I did some good things in the second inning, I just wasn’t able to put some of those guys away.”
Cahill posted a 3.76 ERA with 100 strikeouts, 41 walks and eight homers allowed in 110 innings for the A's last season.
Worth noting
• Shortstop Andrelton Simmons returned to the lineup after missing the last two games with tightness in his trapezoid muscle. He hit a single in the first inning and finished 1-for-3. He also threw out a runner at home on a ground ball hit to him in the second inning.
• Cody Allen made his Angels debut with a scoreless third inning. He struck out two batters in the 14-pitch outing.
“Today, I was just focused on trying to get into a rhythm and throw the ball over the plate,” Allen said. “I was just trying to get my feet under me, facing hitters in a live-game situation.”
• Griffin Canning, the club’s No. 2 prospect, and Jose Suarez, ranked No. 5, also made their Cactus League debuts.
Up next
The Angels will send Tyler Skaggs to the mound Thursday against the Rangers at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The game will air on MLB.TV at 12:10 p.m. PT. On Friday, Forrest Snow will start against the Royals, also in Tempe.