Daisuke Matsuzaka took a small step forward Monday in Fort Myers, throwing 25 pitches in a bullpen session and feeling no pain in his neck.
The session came after Matsuzaka did some long toss and felt strong enough to step on the mound, where pitching coach John Farrell had the right-hander throw fastballs, changeups and curves.
"Today was encouraging," Farrell said. "He felt much better than he did yesterday. There were no restrictions, his intensity was good and it was improved from his two bullpens he threw prior to his scheduled batting practice (which was canceled Saturday due to the neck pain)."
Matsuzaka said afterward that if it was the regular season, he would have been able to pitch through the issue, but he did call it an "intense" pain that emerged after just one pitch in his Saturday session.
He also admitted to a bit of frustration with how his spring has progressed.
"I finally felt that my back issue was getting better and now to go through this with my neck right now, it's sort of moving along in stops and starts, and it's been a bit stressful," he said.
Matsuzaka, who followed up an 18-win season with a 4-6 campaign marred by shoulder and back issues, is scheduled to throw a batting practice session Wednesday.
