Angels right-hander JC Ramirez has been cleared to begin a throwing program next week after his latest exam showed continued improvement of the partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow.Ramirez, 28, missed the final six weeks of the season with the elbow injury and received a stem-cell injection

Angels right-hander JC Ramirez has been cleared to begin a throwing program next week after his latest exam showed continued improvement of the partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow.

Ramirez, 28, missed the final six weeks of the season with the elbow injury and received a stem-cell injection in August to promote healing in the damaged ligament. Ramirez has undergone three ultrasounds over the past two months, all of which have shown positive results.

"It doesn't mean we're out of the woods, but what it means is we have more encouraging news and continued healing," Angels general manager Billy Eppler said Wednesday. "He'll be able to start a throwing program next week, and we'll go from there."

Ramirez, one of the Angels' most pleasant surprises this past season, posted a 4.15 ERA over a career-high 147 1/3 innings in 2017 after transitioning from the bullpen to the rotation. Eppler said the Angels still plan on bringing Ramirez into Spring Training as a starter. Ramirez is expected to report to Arizona in January, when he'll resume throwing off the mound.

Minor League signings

The Angels have signed outfielder Jared Hoying , catcher Curt Casali and utility infielder Colin Walsh to Minor League deals with invitations to Major League Spring Training.

Hoying, 28, batted .222 with a .565 OPS and one home run over 36 games with the Rangers in 2017. The left-handed hitter spent most of this past season with Triple-A Round Rock, where he batted .262 with a .744 OPS and 10 homers over 95 games.

Casali, 29, served as the Rays' primary catcher in 2016, but he played in only nine September games for Tampa Bay this year and spent the rest of the season at Triple-A Durham. He has hit .199 with a .670 OPS over parts of four seasons in the Majors. Casali is expected to compete with Juan Graterol and Carlos Perez during Spring Training for the chance to back up Martin Maldonado next year.

Walsh, 28, is a switch-hitter who plays second and third base, as well as the corner-outfield spots. He appeared in 38 games for the Brewers in 2016 and is a .274 career hitter with an .818 OPS in the Minors.