Johan Santana Throws Two Simulated Innings

New York Mets starting pitcher Johan Santana continues to work his way back from shoulder surgery he underwent over a year and a half ago.  The left-hander has made positive strides recently, and yesterday Santana threw in a game-like setting for the first time since last September.

After logging 72 pitches during a bullpen session earlier this week, Santana took the mound yesterday against several Mets hitters.  Santana threw 40 pitches over two innings of work.

Following the session, Santana said that he thought it was “good”.  The veteran is trying to view this as “just another spring training”.  Santana said that during his session, he mostly focused on how his arm felt pitch after pitch and how it responded heading from the first inning to the second.

It was another step for Santana, but New York expects the real test to come next Tuesday.  That is when Santana will make his first Grapefruit League start, taking on the St. Louis Cardinals.  The Mets have said that Santana is likely to wind up throwing 25 to 30 pitches Tuesday.

Mets manager Terry Collins is still aiming to have Santana take the ball for New York on Opening Day.  However, Collins admitted that the chances of this actually happening will depend on how his ace’s arm responds to Tuesday’s outing.

For more on the Mets, be sure to check out Rising Apple.

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