Garrett Richards is finally ready to return to the mound after a long layoff.
AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reported on Saturday that the veteran righty is set to make his debut for the Padres on Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers after 15 months of Tommy John recovery.
Richards, 31, last pitched for the Los Angeles Angels in 2018. He signed a two-year deal with San Diego last December, putting him under contract through the 2020 season.
The usual recovery timetable for a pitcher undergoing Tommy John surgery is 12-to-15 months, putting Richards on the lengthier end of the spectrum. That might be explained though by Richards’ high velocity on his pitches as well as his opting for alternative treatments when he first damaged his right UCL.
