My son’s first outing was almost 12 months to day from injury and 11.5 months from surgery. His team was very careful with him. His first two outing he faced 3 batters and those were a week apart. He was originally scheduled to be a starter that year but coaches ended up leaving him in bullpen and longest outing was 3 innings that year.
RJM is correct in that it should be about how he felt physically. I know the trainer was all over my son for first month after each outing checking him out physically.
as far as outings of first 4 , 3 were good, 1 not so good. Actually first outing he faced Clemson and struck out the previous years POY. That was an exciting day 😃. He did struggle for a while with command. But that came back.
Tell your son it is hard, but the game is worth the effort.