WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Watching your teammates win the World Series from the dugout while you are wearing a cast on your hand is one thing. Hearing about what caused the injury all winter from your brother is another.

With that in mind, there might not have been an Astros player more motivated to start Spring Training camp than veteran right-hander Phil Maton, who allowed a hit to his brother, Nick Maton, in the final regular-season game of the year against the Phillies and was so frustrated he punched a locker. Things went from bad to worse. Maton broke the fifth metacarpal in his right (throwing) hand, had season-ending surgery and missed the playoffs.

Maton has fully recovered, and he laments having to watch the Astros rip through the postseason by going 11-2 behind an incredible performance by their bullpen.

“It was pretty tough, especially watching some of the situations where I'm like, ‘This is a spot I'd be in the game,’” Maton said. “We have such a deep staff and we have so many good guys, I wasn't missed at all. But I mean, it was really tough to watch from the dugout.”

Because of his up-and-down regular season, Maton wasn’t a lock to be on the American League Division Series roster in October even if he had been healthy -- he posted a 3.84 ERA in 67 games, capped by two runs allowed in the regular-season finale. Maton was a key piece of the 2021 Astros team that won the AL pennant, posting a 0.73 ERA in 12 1/3 innings, including five scoreless outings in the World Series against the Braves.

“The year [2022] didn't end the way exactly I would like to, but just looking at the way that my pitches developed throughout the year, I was really happy with it,” Maton said. “I had a tough stretch kind of after the All-Star break, but I was really happy with the end of the year. It's just getting outs and making pitches and just looking to build on that.”

Maton said he made some adjustments with the lower half of his body to find a bit more velocity and have a more consistent delivery. He simply wants to execute pitches better than he did last year.

“I feel really good,” he said. “I honestly thought I was going to be a little bit behind when I showed up to camp. I made some really good strides in January with my [therapy]. If anything, I got an extra month off with throwing that I've never had before, so my arm feels awesome.”

As far as his brother goes, Nick was traded to the Tigers in the offseason, which means Phil may get another crack at getting him out when Detroit comes to Minute Maid Park the first week of the season.

“He still gives me a good bit of crap about it,” Phil said. “I have to re-tool the arsenal for that at-bat. I can’t have a guy hitting 1.000 off me.”