Padres' Big Free Agent Signing Takes Big Step in Rehab

The reliever says he's "feeling really good."

Yuki Matsui threw off a mound for the first time since he suffered a lower back strain during a drill on Feb. 25. 

According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Matsui threw his splitter multiple times and showed no immediate ill effects after stretching his 20-pitch session out to 30.

“I’ve been feeling really good. There’s no pain or kind of scariness, no hesitation in the bullpen. I have really been feeling good, and I was able to pitch the way I wanted to.”

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Yuki Matsui via San Diego Union-Tribune

Acee notes that Matsui hasn’t said whether he is likely to be ready for the Padres’ March 20 opener. Manager Mike Shildt said he wouldn’t have an update on what is next for Matsui until Wednesday.

“This was my first bullpen after I got (through) rehab, and I felt good. But I need to go out there and throw 100 percent. I just want to see how I feel tomorrow and how the body responds.”

Yuki Matsui via San Diego Union-Tribune

Matsui has appeared in one Cactus League game for the Padres and struck out the side in his lone inning of work.

The Padres signed the Japanese-born reliever to a five-year, $28 million contract in December. Matsui, 28, averaged 32 saves from 2021-23 with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball.