Mike Minor injury: Braves lefty could return this weekend

Braves left hander Mike Minor has not pitched yet this season, but unlike many other pitchers around the league, he didn't have an elbow injury. He's working his way back from urinary tract surgery, which is presumably as awful as it sounds.

According to Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Consitution, Minor will throw a bullpen session on Tuesday to gauge his progress.

Minor is back with the club after completing a Triple-A rehab assignment.

The Braves rotation has been a roller coaster since the beginning of the offseason. It went from a projected strength to the panic-induced signing of Aaron Harang.

That move has paid off surprisingly well, and the Braves rotation as a whole has been terrific through 19 games. They have the best ERA of any starting unit in the majors, but the addition of Minor -- who posted a 3.21 ERA in over 30 starts last season -- isn't likely to hurt their chances of improving upon their 13-6 record in an attempt to repeat as NL East champions.

Minor also dealt with shoulder tendonitis this spring, but that doesn't sound like it will be an issue.

"I don’t feel my shoulder anymore. It’s more of getting those starts in and working my pitch count up and trying to work mechanically in my bullpens, (taking it) into the games and just throwing strikes."

Minor will join Harang, Ervin Santana, Julio Teheran, Alex Wood, and David Hale in the mix for starts upon his return. It's uncertain who he will replace in the regular sequence, but Hale is the most likely candidate due to his relative inexperience.