Spring rebirth: Cueto's arm 'feels like a baby'

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Now that his recovery from Tommy John surgery is firmly in the rearview mirror, Johnny Cueto feels like his right arm has been reborn.

¡°It feels like a baby,¡± Cueto said Wednesday after Giants pitchers and catchers completed their first workout of the spring at Scottsdale Stadium.

One year ago, Cueto¡¯s arm remained in utero as he continued his arduous rehab from August 2018 elbow reconstructive surgery. But the 33-year-old veteran is feeling strong and healthy now after enjoying a normal offseason in his native Dominican Republic. He is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Thursday, giving him his first opportunity to pitch in front of manager Gabe Kapler and the club¡¯s new cadre of pitching coaches.

¡°I feel normal,¡± Cueto said in Spanish. ¡°Like nothing ever happened. Thank God, because I went through a lot with my arm.¡±

Cueto will enter the 2020 season with a bit more peace of mind after accomplishing his goal of returning to the Majors last September. He made four starts for the Giants, logging a 5.06 ERA over 16 innings, but he came away feeling optimistic about the health of his arm.

¡°I felt good at the beginning,¡± Cueto said. ¡°But then again, you still have it in your head, the pain and how you felt before. It¡¯s hard to forget, but thank God everything went well.¡±

The Giants will be leaning heavily on Cueto and fellow veteran Jeff Samardzija to lead a pitching staff filled with youth and uncertainty this season. They will also have a new Opening Day starter after losing Madison Bumgarner to the D-backs. A two-time All-Star, Cueto will likely be the frontrunner to fill the void if he¡¯s healthy, though he knows the decision will be out of his hands.

¡°It¡¯s whatever God decides, whatever the manager decides,¡± Cueto said. ¡°Whoever gets the ball, good luck.¡±

Cahill arrives

Right-hander Trevor Cahill, who signed a Minor League deal with the Giants on Tuesday, reported to Scottsdale Stadium on Wednesday, reuniting with former 2010 A¡¯s teammates Andrew Bailey, Tyson Ross and Jerry Blevins.

Kapler said the 31-year-old Cahill has the versatility to pitch out of the rotation or bullpen for the Giants, noting that he¡¯s only a year removed from the 3.76 ERA he recorded for the A¡¯s in 2018.