Kiel Maddox-USA TODAY Sports
Last week, Johnny Cueto wanted one more start to feel as if he was sharp enough to start for the Giants.
One Triple-A Sacramento outing later, Cueto proclaimed, “I’m ready.”
The Giants did not announce when Cueto would complete his comeback from Tommy John surgery — next weekend in Los Angeles is likely for a player still not off the 60-day IL — yet after his six scoreless, walk-less innings Saturday night, he said he’s back.
“That gave me more confidence. I feel a lot better now,” Cueto said through translator Erwin Higueros on Sunday before the Giants played the Padres at Oracle Park.
Rehab appearance No. 6, in which he threw 75 pitches, put him over the top.
“Physically, I have felt good during all the outings,” said Cueto, likely to bump Dereck Rodriguez from the rotation. “It’s just executing, it’s just putting the pitches where you want. [Saturday] was one of those days that I actually was able to put the ball where I wanted to.”
When he does take the rubber, it will be the culmination of 13 months of work. Cueto, noticeably slimmer, thanked the “kids at the minor league complex” for always inspiring him to keep putting in the work.
He also said the playoff push was a motivation for him (even if that doesn’t quite exist anymore). The Giants began play on Sunday seven games back of the second NL wild card. But Cueto returning to the mound has further-reaching benefits for a rotation fixture signed through 2021.
“I just want to feel better. I just want to know that I’m healthy,” said the 33-year-old. “Try and help a team. And then just mentally be ready for spring training next year.”
For next year and far beyond that.
“If I stay healthy, I think I can pitch five or six years more,” Cueto said. “But then again, only God knows.”