Richards (knee) "did well" during a 50-pitch bullpen session Thursday, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. Richards took a big step forward Thursday, as he threw from the windup and incorporated breaking balls for the first time this spring. Richards has now thrown four sessions this month, and is still hopeful to be ready for Opening Day, but the team has stated they expect him to be ready by mid-April.

Richards is still hopeful to be ready for Opening Day, according to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com. Richards is slated to throw his fourth bullpen session of the spring Thursday, when he will throw out of the windup for the first time, according to the Orange County Register. He has reportedly looked good so far in camp, and looks to be a safe bet on draft day, even if he ends up missing a start or two.

Richards (knee) is expected to join the Angels' rotation "very shortly after the start of the season," according to manager Mike Scioscia, the Orange County Register's Jeff Fletcher reports. He has been throwing bullpen sessions, but has not been participating in fielding drills. While Richards is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, it sounds like a return sometime in April is a very likely outcome, and owners may only miss out on a couple starts from the hard-throwing righty.

Richards (knee) completed his second bullpen session Friday, tossing 30 fastballs from the stretch, MLB.com reports.The right-hander threw off a mound Monday for the first time since undergoing knee surgery in August and said he experienced no soreness afterward. Thus, the Angels gave him the green light to get more mound work in Friday, and Richards now plans to increase to three bullpen sessions next week. It's uncertain when he may be cleared to pitchers' fielding practice but Richards continues to target an Opening Day return, though he acknowledged that he sees why the Angels would consider starting him on the DL.

Richards threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Monday, the Orange County Register reports.Richards worked from the mound for the first time since having surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in August. Pitching coach Mike Butcher said he "looked good" during the session, but the 26-year-old is expected to be behind other pitchers in camp, as he only threw fastballs, and did not throw from the windup. Richards is still hopeful to be ready for Opening Day, but he could return later in April, as the Angels plan to be cautious as he builds up strength.

Richards (knee) was cleared by doctors Thursday, and he can throw his first bullpen session Monday, mlb.com's Alden Gonzalez reports.Richards was hoping to throw his first bullpen session Feb. 19, but the timeline has now been moved up a few days. While this obviously bodes well for his chances, Richards is still uncertain to be ready for Opening Day. He's expected to make his debut at some point in April, if not within the first few days of the season.

Richards (knee) hopes to throw his first bullpen session when pitchers and catchers report for their physicals Feb. 19, MLB.com reports.Richards has been slowly rebuilding strength in his surgically-repaired knee, progressing from weight-bearing exercises to playing catch to a running program, and was expected to run on his full body weight for the first time Tuesday. He's eyeing a return to mound work in just over a week, and said that being ready for Opening Day is still his target, though he cautioned that "the way I progress is kind of going to dictate things." The Angels have said that they are now expecting Richards to be active sometime in April.

Richards (knee) agreed to a one-year, $3.2 million contract with the Angels on Saturday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports. The right-hander was in the midst of a breakout campaign before a knee injury, suffered while trying to cover first base, ended his season in August. In his 26 starts for the Angels last year, Richards posted a 2.61 ERA and 1.04 WHIP, both dramatic improvements on his 2013 marks, and he'll be compensated accordingly in his first year of arbitration. Richards is said be ahead of schedule in his rehab, and has an eye toward progressing to mound work and running on 100 percent of his body weight in the near future.

The Angels now expect Richards (knee) to be active sometime in April, the Orange County Register reports. In fact, the team isn't yet willing to close the door on Richards being ready to start the season, though that seems optimistic even with his considerable progress from August knee surgery. Regardless, it does sound like Richards will be ready to return closer to the front end of his initial 6-to-9 month recovery timetable. The right-hander is currently throwing five times a week at a distance of 125-150 feet and running on 75 percent of his body weight, but he's expected to begin running on 100 percent of his body weight and progress to throwing off a mound in the near future.

Richards (knee) should begin running on 100 percent of his body weight by next week, and will then progress to throwing off a mound, the Los Angeles Times' Mike DiGiovanna reports. Right now Richards is running on 75 percent of his body weight, but is sounds like he is making solid progress. The real test will come a couple months down the line when he starts throwing to hitters and attempts to build up his pitch count. His estimated return date will be fluid, but for now he is expected to be out until sometime in May.