Masahiro Tanaka is making significant progress in his recovery from an elbow injury, but the New York Yankees are not expecting the Japanese pitcher to return anytime soon.

Tanaka threw 10 pitches off flat ground on Wednesday at Camden Yards before the Yankees' scheduled match against the Baltimore Orioles -- the first time he was allowed to throw actual pitches.

Tanaka, who has not pitched since July 8 after he was diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament, started his controlled throwing program on Aug. 4 and underwent gradual soft tossing from a distance of 60 to 90 to 120 feet over the past several days.

"It's feeling really good," Tanaka said via ESPN. "Really, I didn't feel anything special compared to just regular tossing. I thought everything went well."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi felt relief after Tanaka did not experience any pain during the recent session, but he conceded that Wednesday's activity is just one of several steps the ace pitcher needs to take before making his return to the mound.

"Today was a step," Girardi said on Wednesday. "Now the next step after that would be a bullpen. Then after that you start doing [batting practice]. I don't know when he'll do his first bullpen, but so far, so good."

When asked if he expects the 25-year-old to pitch again this season, Girardi insisted that the gradual throwing program is proof that reports suggesting that Tanaka will be shut down for the rest of the season are untrue.

"We wouldn't be going through this if we didn't expect him to pitch for us," Girardi said. "I think once you start seeing him in games, whether it's a rehab game or a regular game, you'll have a better idea really of where he's at. But our hope is he'll pitch in September."

Tanaka, who signed a seven-year deal worth $155 million with the Yankees during the offseason, opted not to undergo Tommy John surgery to repair the torn UCL.

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