Garrett Richards was enjoying a great 2014 campaign before a knee injury sidelined him, but he "felt good" after his first bullpen session on Monday and is aiming for an Opening Day return.
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According to MLB.com, Richards feels fine after throwing 20 pitches in his first bullpen session at the Angels spring training complex in Arizona.
Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher said that Richards, 26, "looked good, felt good" during the session, as he has reached the six-month mark in his recovery.
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Richards suffered a knee injury on Aug. 20 when he was running to cover first base at Fenway Park in a game against the Boston Red Sox.
Richards, who began playing catch in early December and has taken progressive steps over the last few months -- including throwing off of a slope on Friday -- made his biggest leap toward recovery on Monday.
MLB.com reports that the Angels are being careful with Richards and are taking it "day by day," so it's unknown when his next bullpen session will be.
Richards is hoping to be ready by Opening Day when the team visits the Seattle Mariners on April 6.
"When I heard the words 'six months,' I instantly thought, 'Hey, Opening Day can be a real possibility,'" Richards said in a recent interview, according to MLB.com. "So that's kind of been my target since Day 1. Once we get to spring training, the way I progress is kind of going to dictate things. But I feel good right now, and hopefully when I get to spring training, it'll only get better."
Richards was a huge part of the Angles success last season as they finished with a 98-64 record before sputtering out in the playoffs without the right-hander as they were swept by the eventual American League champion Kansas City Royals in the ALDS.
Richards went 13-4 in 2014 with a 2.61 ERA, 1.038 WHIP and 164 strikeouts in 168.2 innings pitched.
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