Joba Chamberlain is rehabbing from two injuries: Tommy John surgery and a scary accident in which he injured his ankle on a trampoline.

Friday, he threw pitches off a mound for the first time since those injuries. ESPN New York:

Chamberlain made 25 throws in a batting cage at the Yankees’ minor league complex. He had been throwing off a half-height mound to help regain his form.

“It felt good,” Chamberlain said. “Another step forward. That’s all you can do.”

Throwing pitches in a batting cage in a minor-league complex is pretty far from throwing pitches in a major-league game. Still, it’s much farther along in the rehab than anyone expected Joba to be at this point. And he’s optimistic about the future:

Chamberlain says he will pitch this season.

“Is that even a question?” he said.

He seems pretty determined. I wouldn’t count a tough competitor like Joba out.

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