A brief Brandon McCarthy update.

Brandon McCarthy

Brandon McCarthy won’t face live batters in spring training as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. (Associated Press photo)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Brandon McCarthy started throwing off a mound this morning a few feet from where manager Dave Roberts was holding daily media briefing. Roberts remarked that it was McCarthy’s first time off a mound, but that wasn’t exactly correct. McCarthy said he’s thrown off a mound “seven or eight” times so far, most recently on Friday.

However, this was the first time McCarthy has thrown to a catcher in a crouch. He said it felt the same as the last six or seven times.

“Spring is just a big series of bullpens right now,” McCarthy said. “That’s it. You’ll be seeing that with more pitches, increasing intensity, as long as we’re here. I probably won’t start seeing hitters until May. Right around the time camp breaks, we’ll shut down a little bit. Then we really start to go, try to run to the finish line.”

That timetable is in line with what McCarthy envisioned at the Dodgers’ FanFest in January. At the time, he was hoping to return in late June or early July. McCarthy had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last April.

These days, he isn’t limited much.

“I’m a very active human being without being able to pitch or play golf,” McCarthy said.

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About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.