Texas Rangers SP Max Scherzer throws to live batters, could return ‘sometime in May’

DETROIT — It’s another box checked off. He’s starting to obliterate them at this rate.

Texas Rangers right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer — back in the stadium where he won his first Cy Young award — faced hitters for the first time since his offseason back surgery on Monday at Comerica Park. The 39-year-old completed a 25-pitch live bullpen session before the series opener against the Detroit Tigers.

Scherzer threw a 30-pitch bullpen at Globe Life Field last Tuesday and said that he felt he was “turning a corner” in his rehab. Now he’s deftly navigated another bend.

“It went well,” said Scherzer, who faced Davis Wendzel, Ezequiel Duran and Andrew Knizner. “It’s a weird environment — there’s no environment, actually — so it’s kind of hard to get a lot out of it ... [I threw] all the pitches, stepped on it.”

Scherzer is in line to throw a 40-pitch live bullpen session on Friday to simulate two innings with ups and downs and, if all goes well, will prepare for a rehab outing after that. Scherzer had initially been ruled out until June after he underwent surgery for a herniated disc in December, but manager Bruce Bochy said that the three-time Cy Young award winner could return to the Rangers “sometime in May.”

“He’s on his way, that’s a good day for him,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “We’re amazed with where he’s at at this point. We were looking at the latter part of June before he would be on the mound for us, but it’s going to be way before that.”

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