SAN DIEGO — For a major league clubhouse to empty hours before a game to watch a teammate throw says something.
That it was for right-hander Josh Johnson says everything.
“Josh supports each and every Padre,” San Diego manager Bud Black said. “He’s been such a great mentor to the young pitchers that have come through here.”
Johnson hasn’t done much else in his year-plus with the team. He’s trying to comeback from his second Tommy John surgery, which robbed him of last season. That is what made Tuesday’s throwing session so special for the two-time All-Star.
Johnson continues to make progress and he proved it by throwing all his pitches (fastball, slider, curveball) in his 40-pitch, simulated game.
“He had a good arm stroke,” Black said. “He looked good.”
Johnson, if all goes well, could head to the Padres’ Arizona facility for another simulated game when the team hits the road next week.
“Then in the next 10 days or so if everything is OK, there might be a rehabilitation assignment,” Black said.
Johnson was just happy to get through Tuesday. He received a warm round of applause from teammates, coaches and Padres executives when he exited.
“For them to do that, that was awesome,” Johnson said. “It shows I’m getting close.
“But I’m not trying to get too far ahead of myself. I take everything with a grain of salt.”