D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
He’s getting closer.
Johnny Cueto’s next start will be with High-A San Jose this week after throwing a pair of scoreless innings Friday in Arizona.
“He came out of it well. Threw the ball very well. Hit 92,” Bruce Bochy said Saturday before the Giants played the Phillies at Oracle Park. “Once he was done with his work, he went down and threw 15 more pitches. Getting to the point where we wanted. Really good outing.”
Bochy said Cueto threw about 35 pitches, bullpen session included. He struck out two and allowed two hits and no runs in his second rehab start. Bochy said the 33-year-old will next pitch Wednesday or Thursday, when he’ll throw about 40 pitches. Bochy was excited by the progress.
“With Johnny, he can adjust where his velocity is. … He’s a complete pitcher,” Bochy said of Cueto, whom he again said he expects to return in September. “Still, with that said, for him to be where he’s at with his velocity at 92, it’s pretty impressive. Because that’s only going to climb when he builds strength.”
Bochy had little else on Alex Dickerson, who swung (successfully) for the first time Thursday since his oblique caused the injured-list stint.
“Taking some swings out of the cage, doing a little running, throwing,” Bochy said. “I don’t have a target date for him.”