TORONTO -- B.J. Ryan's comeback has been set in motion. Earlier this week, the Blue Jays closer began throwing a baseball for the first time since undergoing reconstructive surgery on his left elbow in May.
"He started to do really light tossing," Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said on Saturday. "It's nothing to get too excited about in the sense that he's on a mound or anything. But he's right where he should be. He's right on schedule."

When exactly that schedule calls for an official return to Toronto's bullpen remains to be seen. Ryan was sidelined by the elbow injury in April and the left-hander's season came to an abrupt halt on May 10, when he had a Tommy John elbow ligament replacement operation performed by Dr. Timothy Kremcheck in Cincinnati.

In Ryan's absence, the Blue Jays turned to 25-year-old right-hander Jeremy Accardo, who has proved to be a reliable replacement. Since assuming closing duties on May 12, Accardo has posted a 3.32 ERA with 26 saves in 30 chances. Last year, Ryan posted a 1.37 ERA and recorded 38 saves in 42 opportunities.

As a group, Toronto's bullpen entered Saturday ranked second in the American League with a 3.31 ERA and a .230 opponents' batting average. That showing, along with the performance by Accardo, has convinced the Jays that they have options if Ryan's rehab lasts into the early months of next season.

"It's allowing us to have a little more patience," Ricciardi said. "It gives you a little more comfort, knowing that we have a couple guys who can do the job in certain areas. When he's right, he's right, whether that's in April or in May or whenever. There's a little bit of a comfort level there."

Ricciardi added that Ryan was scheduled to head to Toronto during the next homestand to throw in front of the team's medical staff. The Blue Jays signed the 31-year-old left-hander to a five-year deal worth $47 million prior to last season. Ryan is owed $30 million over the next three seasons.