Dodgers’ Chad Billingsley to pitch in minor leagues Sunday

Reporting from Denver — Chad Billingsley will start a rehabilitation assignment Sunday with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, according to Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly.

Billingsley is more than 13 months removed from reconstructive elbow surgery.

Billingsley’s last rehabilitation assignment, in April, ended prematurely when he felt something wasn’t right in his surgically repaired elbow. Scar tissue had broken up, leading to tendinitis.

Billingsley is scheduled to throw 30 pitches.

In other news, the Dodgers figured to be without assistant hitting coach John Valentin against the Rockies on Saturday after he was struck by a ball in an indoor batting cage. Valentin, who was hit near his left eye, remained conscious but was taken to a nearby hospital to be examined.

The ball was hit by Andre Ethier, who also struck Sandy Koufax with a foul ball during spring training.