GLENDALE, Ariz. — Chris Taylor had surgery on his right elbow shortly after the 2021 season ended, weeks before signing a four-year, $60 million contract with the Dodgers.

A first-time All-Star last season, Taylor said an MRI after the season revealed bone chips which he had removed in November. Taylor has been limited to DH duties in the first days of Cactus League games but played second base for a few innings in a minor-league camp game Monday and is expected to play second base in a Cactus League game on Thursday.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called the surgery a “minor situation” that won’t affect Taylor’s readiness to start the season. The Dodgers were aware of the surgery before they re-signed him.

“It was like wear and tear over the years, but it was definitely something that was bothering me more in September and October,” Taylor said.

“The worst was hitting, actually (not throwing). It was like the extension part of that. But it was something I could manage and just kind of get worked on and get it loose. Just kind of had to manage the workload more than anything.”

Coincidental or not, Taylor (who also played through a neck injury late in the 2021 season) finished the season in a 7-for-58 slump (with 23 strikeouts) before rebounding to go 13 for 37 (.351) with four doubles and four home runs during the Dodgers’ postseason run – including the walk-off home run to win the wild-card game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

“It was something that, like by the time the game started I didn’t notice it,” Taylor said. “It was more so just working up to the game and getting it loose. In the mornings would be the worst, when it’s stiff when I wake up. But by the time the game started, it didn’t affect my play or anything like that.”

Taylor spent the lockout rehabbing from the surgery. He started hitting later than normal in January and now is “just building up the stamina for throwing.”

“I’m 100%. It’s just like working back to the endurance part,” he said. “It’s nice to wake up in the morning and not have this tightness in my bicep and forearm.”

MUNCY DEBUTS

Playing in a game for the first time since injuring his left elbow in the final regular-season game in 2021, Max Muncy struck out and walked while playing three innings at third base on Monday.

“It felt good to be back,” Muncy said. “We’re working through some things, but the most important thing is to get out there and get some game action. The elbow felt fine doing ABs against guys in the back fields, but you get a little adrenaline going and see how it feels with those types of swings. It felt good today. The swing is a different matter, but we have to worry about the elbow first.”

Muncy acknowledged that his swing needs some work before he will be ready for the start of the season.

“I think it’s just rust,” he said. “I think we’re closer than what it looks. … But the most important thing is the health of the elbow and I think it’s going well.

“It’s just more of loosening it up. … It’s like if you’ve been sitting in a car for a long time, your legs get stiff. It’s almost like that. But we’re close, I think.”

FERGUSON RETURNS

Left-hander Caleb Ferguson pitched in a game Monday for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery (his second) in September 2020.

“Long,” Ferguson said of the rehab process. “I felt like I was climbing a mountain where you couldn’t see the top.”

Ferguson said he had a setback in his rehab last August. Soreness in his elbow forced him to re-start his throwing program.

“But now I’ve completed the rehab and now it’s just checking boxes,” Ferguson said.

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Early in camp, Roberts said “it’s very unlikely” Ferguson or Tommy Kahnle (who also had Tommy John surgery in 2020) will be ready for Opening Day. But Ferguson has been throwing to hitters in batting practice and now in a game.

“I don’t want to put any pressure or certain expectations as a hard, ‘Opening Day – you’re ready,’” Roberts said more recently. “If he beats what I felt a few days ago, great. That’s good for us. I just wanted to sort of manage expectations.”

ALSO

Outfielder AJ Pollock was scratched from Monday’s lineup with a sore back. “Just the normal body soreness,” Roberts said. “Being in spikes, standing around, the start and stop of playing. He just came in today and said, ‘My back is a little tight, my body’s sore.’ So I just said, ‘Take today and … be in there tomorrow.’” … Pitchers Walker Buehler and Andrew Heaney and first baseman Freddie Freeman are scheduled to make their spring debuts on Tuesday with outfielder Mookie Betts scheduled to play his first spring game Wednesday.