SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants right-hander Tyler Beede reached a big milestone in his rehab on Monday, resuming throwing for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery on March 20.
Beede was projected to be the Giants’ fifth starter heading into the 2020 season and hit 98 mph with his fastball during Spring Training, but he encountered a significant setback after an MRI exam revealed a flexor strain and a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He consulted several doctors before it became clear that surgery would be his best option.
Beede traveled to Texas to have the procedure performed by Dr. Keith Meister, who serves as the team physician for the Rangers, and continued to rehab there this summer. The 26-year-old is expected to miss the entire 2020 campaign, but he’s on track to return to the Giants at some point during the 2021 season.
The Giants also received an encouraging update on another rehabbing pitcher who still has a shot at contributing to the Major League club this season: Reyes Moronta.
Moronta, who was once viewed as the Giants’ closer of the future, was scheduled to throw one inning in his first simulated game at the alternate training site in Sacramento on Wednesday. Manager Gabe Kapler said the team hasn’t ruled out a potential 2020 return for the hard-throwing reliever.
"I think we monitor every outing and figure out how he bounces back," Kapler said Wednesday. "But so far his stuff has been crisp and he's been trending up. I've gotten regular reports from [director of player development] Kyle Haines on his performances and they've all looked good in the bullpen. We're optimistic that if he keeps trending in the right direction he could make an impact for us at some point."
Moronta, 27, logged a 2.86 ERA over 56 2/3 innings in 2019 before suffering a torn labrum in his right shoulder that led to season-ending surgery last September.
Spring Training schedule released
The Giants released their 2021 Spring Training schedule on Wednesday, with their Cactus League opener set for Feb. 27 against the Angels at Scottsdale Stadium. They will host the Dodgers on March 4 before heading to Glendale to face their archrivals on the road on March 9.
The Giants will return to Northern California to conclude their exhibition schedule with the annual Bay Bridge Series against the A’s. They will play two games in Oakland (March 28-29) before hosting the series finale at Oracle Park (March 30). San Francisco is slated to play its season opener in Seattle on April 1.