Report: Daisuke Matsuzaka Suffering From Back Tightness

by Jessica Isner on Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 10:41PM

The waters aren't running smoothly for Daisuke Matsuzaka out of the gates in spring training.

After declining to speak to the American media on Tuesday, the right-hander told a group of Japanese reporters that he hasn't been able to throw since last week because of back tightness, according to ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes.

Matsuzaka — who made just 12 starts in 2009 due to a leg injury that may have been suffered during Japan's victory in the World Baseball Classic, along with shoulder tiredness — avoided the practice field and instead worked out inside, after which he reportedly told various Japanese news outlets that he skipped a throwing session late last week because of the back ailment. He added that the situation hadn't improved enough to allow him to throw during Tuesday's workout.

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein did not mention the injury during his meeting with the media on Monday, but the team is allegedly aware of the injury.