Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis making progress in rehab

MIAMI -- Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis, who has missed 24 games after arthroscopic surgery to repair a tear in his left knee, continues to make progress in his comeback.

Ellis has begun catching bullpen sessions and is stepping up his running program, sprinting hard from first base to third Sunday morning. Ellis said the running is the last box to check off in his rehab.

When Ellis is ready to return it will leave Manager Don Mattingly will a difficult decision over which two catchers to carry. He started Drew Butera on Sunday but said veteran Miguel Olivo, who has five hits in three games since being called up Thursday, will get the majority of the playing time until Ellis is activated.

“He’s dangerous up there,” Mattingly said of Olivo.

Whichever catcher, Butera or Olivo, is sent down when Ellis comes back would have to pass through waivers first, meaning the Dodgers could wind up losing him.