KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Astros right-hander Luke Gregerson threw off the mound Wednesday for the first time this spring. Gregerson arrived at camp with left oblique soreness and had been limited to play catching before going through a full workout on Monday.
"He's been anxious to get off the mound, and things went well," manager A.J. Hinch said. "It's nice to see him as a regular player. We got a pretty decent full workout today. Not a completely full bullpen [session], but he probably felt like a pitcher for the first time this spring."
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Gregerson categorized his throwing session as more of a "touch and feel" outing to get him used to throwing down the slope of the mound, but it's a sign his injury is behind him.
"It's a little different than playing catch normally," Gregerson said. "Other than that, everything felt good. The ball was coming out nice and moving well, and we'll go forward from there."
Gregerson plans to throw live batting practice later this week, with hopes of getting into a game next week.
"On March 2, he's got plenty of time, and he'll be ready to get into the regular program here soon," Hinch said.
In his first year with the Astros, Gregerson went 7-3 with a 3.10 ERA and saved 31 games in 36 chances last year as the closer. That job is expected to go to newcomer Ken Giles this year, but Gregerson figures to play another key role in Hinch's bullpen.