SURPRISE, Ariz. -- A's right-hander Henderson Alvarez crossed another item off his injury rehab to-do list on Saturday morning, spinning breaking balls off the mound for the first time post-surgery.
Henderson, who had previously been limited to fastballs and changeups, threw two sets of 20 pitches for a total of 40 in his latest bullpen session, as he prepares to progress to facing hitters next weekend when the team returns home.
"Time to take the training wheels off," manager Bob Melvin said.
Henderson underwent shoulder surgery in July 2015, signed a one-year deal with the A's in December and is expected to join their rotation in May.