PEORIA, Ariz. -- Shohei Ohtani took batting practice in the batting cages on Sunday, the first time he has done so since undergoing Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1. Ohtani began participating in soft-toss drills on March 1 and took a step up on Sunday. He hit 10 balls off

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Shohei Ohtani took batting practice in the batting cages on Sunday, the first time he has done so since undergoing Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1.

Ohtani began participating in soft-toss drills on March 1 and took a step up on Sunday. He hit 10 balls off a tee, 10 during soft toss and 10 during batting practice with a coach pitching. His next step will be to take batting practice outside before he progresses to live batting practice. He remains on track to return as a designated hitter in May.

"I talked to Ohtani this morning, and I talked to the medical staff this morning," Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. "They decided he was ready today, and I trust them."

Ohtani also has been throwing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday since March 8. But the focus remains on getting him ready offensively, as he won’t pitch in 2019. Ausmus said he’s not sure when Ohtani will take the next step of hitting on the field.

"I don't want to put a time frame on it,” Ausmus said. “Again, I'm going to rely on the medical team. If they think he’s progressing more rapidly, then maybe it won't be."

But Ausmus said that hitting on the field will be a bigger step than simply taking batting practice indoors.

"Once you put him on the field, you can see the outfield wall and you want to hit it over," Ausmus said. "When you're in the cages and it's soft toss or overhand soft toss, you're still constrained by the nets. You put them out here and they see 360 feet down the line, 400 to center field. There's a little added energy in the swing. So I think it's a bigger step getting on the field."

Heaney resumes throwing

Left-hander Andrew Heaney , who has been out with left elbow inflammation since his last start on March 8, resumed his throwing program on Sunday. But Ausmus said Heaney will start the season on the injured list.

“I talked to him today,” Ausmus said. “Hopefully, it won’t be too long, but he won’t be ready for Opening Day.”

Cozart, Upton to play Tuesday

Third baseman Zack Cozart (left calf strain) and left fielder Justin Upton (right knee tendinitis) played in Minor League games again Sunday and will progress to playing in Tuesday’s game against the Rockies. It’ll be Cozart’s first game since March 1 and Upton’s first of the spring. Both players believe they will be ready for Opening Day.

Skaggs to return Wednesday

Left-hander Tyler Skaggs , who has been bothered by forearm fatigue this spring, will start on Wednesday against the Indians. He threw 50 pitches in a Minor League outing on Friday and will be pitching in his first Cactus League game since March 5. He remains on track to be ready for the start of the season but likely won’t be fully stretched out to 100 pitches for his season debut.

Up next

The Angels have an off-day Monday and will have a bullpen day at 6:10 p.m. PT Tuesday against the Rockies at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Closer Cody Allen will start for the Angels, while German Marquez gets the nod for Colorado. On the off-day, right-hander Felix Pena will pitch in a Minor League game. Pena is taking Heaney's place in the rotation to open the season.