All Jake Diekman wanted to do with his first pitch off a mound since last season was throw a strike.
Mission accomplished, as the left-hander found the catcher’s mitt Thursday afternoon. But the bigger mission was that Diekman pitched at all six weeks and one day after his third and final surgery this year for ulcerative colitis.
He felt no discomfort, tried to throw as hard as his arm would let him, and was left with no shortage of confidence afterward.
“I feel I can throw in a game right now,” Diekman said.