Detroit Tigers' Reese Olson takes 'first step' in live batting practice vs. Wenceel Pérez

Detroit Tigers right-hander Reese Olson is making his way back from a right shoulder strain.

The 25-year-old, who hasn't pitched for the Tigers since July 20, threw 20 pitches in a live batting practice session before Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park, facing Wenceel Pérez, Ryan Kreidler and Dillon Dingler.

"Felt pretty normal," Olson said.

"When you're coming back," Olson continued, "you got to get the first mound action before you get game action. It's just kind of the first step."

Next up, Olson could begin a rehab assignment.

"The next 24 hours, always key," manager A.J. Hinch said of Olson's status. "It was another test that it looks like he passed, as of right afterwards. It's encouraging to see for both him and Wenceel."

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If Olson feels healthy on Sunday, he should be able to start his rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo. He projects to make at least two MLB starts for the Tigers in the second half of September.

The Tigers, though, won't take any chances with Olson's health.

"One setback, it's over," Hinch said. "It's important for us to stay really disciplined with him and slowly build any volume that we're after. ... If he needs another live BP, cool. If he goes out on rehab, cool. But we need to take steps forward to see what we can get out of him when we can."

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Pérez, who participated in the live batting practice session, is coming back from a left oblique strain. He is a switch-hitter, but he only swung from the left side of the plate against Olson. His right-handed swing is behind his left-handed swing in the recovery process.

The Tigers could send Pérez on a rehab assignment within the next few days, even though his right-handed swing might be restricted. After facing Olson, Pérez ran the bases without any issues, but he still needs to make throws from the outfield at different angles.

Pérez has been swinging right-handed in the batting cage.

"The right-handed swing is still inside," Hinch said. "He took extra rounds of batting practice right-handed inside today, which he asked for, which indicates that he's positive about him. We're likely to talk about what's next for him after we see how he feels tomorrow. He's as close as he can get to needing game action to being the next test."

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Olson has a 3.23 ERA with 31 walks and 92 strikeouts across 103 innings in 19 starts. He threw all five of his pitches in the 20-pitch live batting practice session.

He was critical of his slider.

"Everything felt pretty normal," Olson said. "The shapes of everything are pretty good. It's kind of the same old stuff. I'm tugging my slider a little bit, but it's a little bit more effort and a little bit higher energy with a batter in there. It won't be hard for me to lock that in."

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' RHP Reese Olson takes 'first step' toward return