Astros' Lance McCullers begins throwing for first time since injury

Lance McCullers played catch in a "light fashion" on Friday as the 22-year-old righthander is getting back to throwing after he went more than three weeks without doing so.

"Getting his arm back in shape, which is good news," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said before Friday's game. "He hasn't felt any issues, he hasn't felt any pain or anything like that, so it's a step in a right direction.

"We're still a ways away from aggressive catch, mound activity or anything like that, but this first step of getting back into his throwing program is going well."

McCullers went on the DL on Aug. 3 with a mild sprain in his right elbow after exiting his start the day before in the fifth inning. The original plan was to have him not throw for two weeks, with Hinch saying Aug. 16 that McCullers wouldn't throw for another week.

After starting the season on the DL after a bout of shoulder soreness and not making his 2016 debut until May 13, McCullers was the Astros' best starter in July. He posted a 2.08 ERA with 44 strikeouts in five July starts.

But Hinch said the team won't rush McCullers back. He pitched 125 2/3 innings last season after being called up in May and has 81 innings under his belt in 14 starts in 2016.

"For Lance, he has to answer a lot of different challenges along the way," Hinch said. "It's really a step-by-step process. For me, the sooner the better for our team, but long term, we're going to protect his health and we're not going to be too egregious with our aggressiveness.

Lance McCullers went on the DL on Aug. 3 with a mild sprain in his right elbow after exiting his start the day before in the fifth inning. Lance McCullers went on the DL on Aug. 3 with a mild sprain in his right elbow after exiting his start the day before in the fifth inning. Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Astros' Lance McCullers begins throwing for first time since injury 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

"I'd like to push him to the point of him potentially helping us, but we're not going to be stupid about this and push him past any sort of comfort level. For me as a manager, I've got the guys that we have healthy now - you try to focus on those guys and be pleasantly surprised when these other guys get back."