Kyle Hendricks will miss Opening Day with the Chicago Cubs.
But he’s getting closer.
For the lone remaining player from the Cubs’ 2016 World Series title team, progress has been made.
Hendricks threw his first full bullpen session Monday in spring training. The right-hander, who has been recovering from a capsular tear in his throwing shoulder, had previously thrown three light bullpens.
On Monday, he tossed 25 pitches.
‘‘It was a really good day,’’ Hendricks told reporters. ‘‘Just to open it up a little bit and still feel really good shoulder-wise, that’s No. 1. Felt really, really good, so that’s really promising.’’
Hendricks threw fastballs and changeups.
‘‘The first six to eight of them were more than 100 percent for me, almost,’’ Hendricks said. ‘‘So that’s one of the things we’re trying to do — trying to get my body to open up a little bit, get uncomfortable, then reel it back in and get back to doing what I do.’’
Hendricks is scheduled to throw about 10 bullpens followed by live batting practice. The timeline would take him to about the second week of April.
As far as making his debut this season, that’s still a work-in-progress. At least he’s moving forward.
Hendricks went 4-6 with a 4.80 ERA in 16 starts last season. Hendricks is 87-61 with a 3.46 ERA in his nine-year career.
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