Cubs backup catcher Victor Caratini is showing signs of progress after having surgery last Monday to repair a broken bone in his left hand.
Before the Cubs’ game Sunday against the Diamondbacks, he was throwing but not catching.
‘‘I’m just trying to stay in physical shape and just trying to keep my arm healthy,’’ Caratini, who throws right-handed, said through a translator.
Though he’s still several weeks away from returning, Caratini said he feels good mobility-wise.
‘‘I feel fine,’’ said Caratini, whose left hand was wrapped in blue medical tape to protect his stitches. ‘‘It’s something that I have no control over, so I can’t do much about that. But I’m trying to come back as fast as I can . . . so I can help our team.’’
Caratini was off to a hot start offensively, hitting .571 (8-for-14) with three doubles, a home run and five RBI in six games before suffering a broken hamate bone while batting April 11 against the Pirates.
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The Cubs put Caratini on the injured list April 12 and recalled Taylor Davis from Class AAA Iowa. They were weighing the option of adding a veteran catcher from outside the organization but ultimately decided against it.
Caratini said he likely will continue to throw until his stitches are removed. Then he’ll progress to more activities with his left hand.
‘‘I feel pretty advanced [in my recovery],’’ Caratini said. ‘‘I’m on my way.’’
Montgomery nears return
Left-handed reliever Mike Montgomery, who is recovering from a strained lat, is scheduled to make a rehab start Monday for Class AA Tennessee. The goal is for him to pitch three innings.
He made a rehab start last week for Class A South Bend in which he threw 27 pitches in two innings.
‘‘I want to get to a spot physically where I can be sharp on the mound and work on things,’’ Montgomery said. ‘‘I kind of feel like I’ve always been playing catch-up so far this year, and I haven’t been able to go out there and really work on certain pitches, certain zones.
‘‘I threw a bullpen the other day and worked on some stuff I hadn’t been able to do. So that’s a good thing for me, and that put me in the best position to be successful when I’m out there.’’
