Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander threw about 20 pitches off the mound Monday for the first time since having surgery last month on his core muscle.
“I did throw off the mound yesterday,” Verlander said Tuesday at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. “Felt really good. Didn’t feel anything in my groin, hip, nothing.
“My goal now is the start of the season. Whether that’s Game 1, I don’t know. But I intend on being ready.”
Verlander injured his core doing squats in December. He originally felt pain on his left side, but an MRI also showed weakening on the right side, and he ended up having surgery in Philadelphia.
After throwing Monday, Verlander said he has been in contact with his doctor in Philadelphia.
“To be honest with you, I’ve been holding myself back or trying to because it felt so good,” Verlander said of his recovery. “Felt there was a lot more things I could do and push and get even more ahead of schedule.”
The 2011 Cy Young Award winner said if the injury would have occurred during the regular season, he likely would have missed about two months.
“Obviously, you’re never happy going under the knife,” Verlander said. “It could have been the luckiest thing that could have happened to me, having it go when it did.”
Verlander, who turns 31 on Feb. 20, said he plans to pitch in five spring training games.
“I’m starting to get to that period now in my rehab, as long as I feel OK, do more and more,” Verlander said. “Knock on wood, I haven’t had any problems.”
Verlander went 13-12 with a 3.46 ERA last year in 34 starts and 218 1/3 innings last season. He has thrown more than 200 innings in seven straight seasons.