Jurrjens throws pain-free batting practice, getting close to return

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla - Braves pitcher Jair Jurrjens threw his first round of live batting practice on Sunday morning and came away feeling good about his right shoulder and taking his next step toward returning to the rotation.

“It’s definitely big,” Jurrjens said of the step he took Sunday. “Taking a little bit of rest and starting to throw again, my shoulder is responding really well.”

He is expected to take two days off, throw another batting practice session on Wednesday, take two more days off, and if all goes well he’ll have a chance to pitch in his first game of spring on Saturday March 13 against Toronto. The Braves won’t make his return date official until they see how his shoulder responds.

Jurrjens has thrown three pain-free bullpen sessions, followed by his 24-pitch batting practice round on Sunday.

He’d injured his shoulder about three weeks ago making an awkward throw to second base in Curacao. He had trouble playing catch, even, from 60 feet at that point, and the Braves brought him to Atlanta for an MRI. It was negative.

All Jurrjens had felt lately was a little tightness warming up, but on Sunday he said even that is dissipating.