Bartolo Colon Takes Big Step Toward Return

Yankees starter Bartolo Colon, who is out with a groin injury, took a big step closer to a return today as he threw 31 pitches off a mound in Tampa, according to Pete Caldera of the Bergin Record.

Manager Joe Girardi said after that the the next step is for him to throw 50 pitches in a simulated game on Monday, according to Brian Heyman of the Journal News. That does put him in line to take Brian Gordon‘s spot in the rotation, how soon that will happen is the question.

Phil Hughes is also throwing today. It will be his second rehab start, he’ll have at least one and maybe two more as long as tonight’s start goes well. That means the Yankees could have both Hughes and Colon by by the All-Star break.