KANSAS CITY - Royals right-hander Luke Hochevar hopes to begin throwing off a mound later this month as he continues to rehab from Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss all of last season.
Hochevar, who signed a $10 million, two-year deal to remain in Kansas City this week, had the surgery after feeling a twinge in his pitching elbow in spring training. He wound up watching from the dugout as the Royals surged to the World Series.
Hochevar said on a conference call with reporters Friday he had other offers in free agency but he wanted to stay with the Royals after watching their success this past season.
The former No. 1 overall draft pick said he feels better now than he did before the surgery.