PHOENIX — Arizona’s Brandon Webb has thrown off the mound for the first time in three months, a move he didn’t expect.

The former NL Cy Young Award winner wasn’t told of the Diamondbacks’ plans until pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. told him to go the bullpen after he played catch as scheduled on Saturday. Webb said he threw about 30 pitches and finally is seeing “a little light at the end of the tunnel.”

The right-hander has been slow to recover from shoulder surgery. He says he expects to throw off the mound again on Wednesday.

Webb dates the recent progress to a change in his arm slot on his delivery. He has not pitched in a game since the season opener last year.