Verlander Calls Offseason Surgery 'Blessing In Disguise'
Justin Verlander throw off the mound on Monday for the first time since having surgery on his core muscle.
The right-hander called the injury "a blessing in disguise."
Verlander threw about 20 pitches. He expects to make five starts in spring training, and hopes to be ready for Opening Day.
"Felt really good," Verlander told reporters. "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 was happy the injury was detected well before the start of the season; if it occurred during the regular season, he likely would have missed about two months.
"Obviously, you're never happy going under the knife," Verlander told reporters. "It could have been the luckiest thing that could have happened to me, having it go when it did."
Via ESPN