Marlins starting pitcher
Jose Fernandez faced live hitters for the first time since having Tommy John surgery nearly a year ago, per the team's official website on Thursday. Fernandez, who threw 50 pitches in a bullpen session on Monday, tossed approximately 15 pitches at the team's complex in Jupiter, Fla.
"It was competing and it felt really fantastic," Fernandez said, per MLB.com. "Command of the ball was [good], except for one or two pitches that were up in the zone a little bit. [I] was sticking my fastball really well. Breaking ball was good. Changeup was good. And I was really happy with the way everything came out today."
When asked about his timetable on Wednesday, Fernandez refused to speculate when he'll make his season debut.
"Everything depends on [Thursday] and three days after that. That's the approach that I'm taking," Fernandez said,
per MLB.com. "I don't want to go crazy and start thinking about a day because it's going to change. I don't want to disappoint myself. ... I feel fantastic. Knocking on wood right now. I feel like I haven't left the game. I do what my doctor says. I've just got to follow a plan, follow the rules the way that I have to."