Jurrjens to start vs. Yankees on Thursday

Lakeland, Fla. – In a span of 11 days, Braves pitcher Jair Jurrjens will go from long-tossing in the outfield to starting against the New York Yankees.

The right-hander has made steady and recently rapid progress in returning from shoulder inflammation that kept him off the mound for the first two weeks of spring training.

Jurrjens will throw batting practice at Champion Stadium on Tuesday afternoon before the Braves’ night game against Philadelphia, then get his first game action of spring with a start against the defending World Series champions two days later in Tampa.

Reliever Scott Proctor is also scheduled to throw batting practice on the main field at Champion Stadium on Tuesday. The veteran setup man is at least one month ahead of schedule in his recovery from ligament-transplant elbow surgery.

Proctor could be ready to come off the disabled list in April, barring setbacks.